Trace Awards 2025 winners

The winners of the Trace Awards 2025 were announced at the Mora Resort in Zanzibar on the morning of February 27.

The ceremony attracted artists from over 30 countries across Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe who competed across 24 categories. The prestigious award ceremony recognized the continent’s profound influence on global music, showcasing both mainstream and niche genres such as coupé-décalé, bongo flava, and genge.

The entire African continent was represented by its best artistes at the TRACE Awards, showcasing the excellence and diversity of Afrocentric music in genres such Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava and rap among many other genres.

Below are all the winners:

Global Awards

Song of the Year

• Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
• Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
• Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
• Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz – ‘Komasawa’ (Tanzania)

Album of the Year

• Rema – Heis (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
• Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
• Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
• Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
• King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
• Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
• Toofan – Stamina (Togo)

Best Collaboration

• Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
• Neyna & MC Acondize – ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ (Cape Verde)
• Kocee ft. Patoranking – ‘Credit Alert’ (Cameroon/Nigeria)
• Asake & Wizkid – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
• Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
• Odumodublvck & Black Sherif – ‘Woto Woto Seasoning’ (Ghana)

Best Music Video

• Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria)
• TG Omori – Kizz Daniel & Davido ‘Twe Twe’ (Nigeria)
• Director Folex – Zuchu feat Innoss’ B ‘Nani’ (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC)
• Nabil Elderkin – Tyla ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
• Kmane – Ayra Starr ‘Commas’ (Nigeria)
• Seoute Emmanuel – Toofan ‘C Pas Normal’ (Togo)
• Ach’B – Innoss’ B ‘Sete’ (DRC)
• Edgar Esteves – Asake & Wizkid ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)

Best Dancer

• Makhadzi (South Africa)
• Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
• Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
• Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
• Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
• Telminho (Angola)
• Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)
• Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Best DJ

• DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria)
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles – ‘Wadibusa’ (South Africa)
• DJ Tunez – ‘Apala Disco Remix’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Nelasta – ‘Eros’ (Angola)
• DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay – ‘One Call’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi – ‘Honest’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop Artist

• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Nasty C (South Africa)
• Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
• Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Young Lunya (Tanzania)
• Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)

Pan-African Awards

Best Global African Artist

• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU (South Africa)
• Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Asake (Nigeria/USA)
• Rema (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Best Male Artist

• Rema (Nigeria)
• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best Female Artist

• Tyla (South Africa)
• Makhadzi (South Africa)
• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Live Performance

• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Ayra Starr – 21: The World Tour (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Yemi Alade – African Rebel Tour (Nigeria)
• Didi B – Mojo Trone Tour (Ivory Coast)
• Diamond Platnumz – Wasafi Festival (Tanzania)

Best Producer

• P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
• Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)
• DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Tam Sir – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Sarz – ‘Happiness’ (Nigeria)
• Jae 5 – ‘Perfect Combi’ (Ghana)
• KDDO – ‘For Certain’ (Party Next Door) (Nigeria)
• London – ‘Ozeba’ (Nigeria)
• Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)

Best Gospel Artist

• Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
• Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
• KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
• Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
• Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
• Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)

Regional Awards

Best Artist Eastern Africa

• Bien (Kenya)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
• Harmonize (Tanzania)
• Rophnan (Ethiopia)
• Marioo (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Nandy (Tanzania)

Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
• Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Chike (Nigeria)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• KiDi (Ghana)

Best Artist (Southern Africa)

• Tyler ICU (South Africa)
• Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
• De Mthuda (South Africa)
• Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Best Artist Francophone Africa

• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Tidiane Mario (Congo)
• Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
• PhillBill (Cameroon)

Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)

• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
• Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
• Landrick (Angola)
• Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
• Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artist (Tanzania)

• Nandy (Tanzania)
• Mbosso (Tanzania)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Tanzia)
• Marioo (Tanzania)
• Alikiba (Tanzania)
• Jux (Tanzania)
• Harmonize (Tanzania)

International and Diaspora Awards

Best Artist (Europe)

• Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti)
• Central Cee (United Kingdom)
• Kalash (France/Martinique)
• Darkoo (United Kingdom)
• Jungeli (France)
• Franglish (France)
• Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)

Best Artist (Brazil)

• Duquesa (Brazil)
• Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
• MC IG (Brazil)
• Péricles (Brazil)
• Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
• Ludmilla (Brazil)

Best Artist (Caribbean)

• Lea Churro (Reunion Island) 
• Venssy (French Guiana)
• Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
• Meryl (Martinique)
• Nesly (French Guiana)
• Shenseea (Jamaica)
• Kenny Haiti (Haiti)

Best Artist (Indian Ocean)

• Barth (Reunion)
• Goulam (Comoros)
• PLL (Reunion)
• Kalipsxau (Reunion)
• Léa Churros (Reunion)
• Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)

Lifetime Achievement Award

• D’Banj