The first Trace Awards will take place at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 21. The hosts have been announced as Nigerian artist D’Banj and Angolan supermodel Maria Borges.
An event featuring more than 60 acts and nominations will be emceed by D’Banj and Borges.
It is a wonderful honour for D’Banj to co-host the first Trace Awards in Africa and to oversee this incredible celebration of music of African and Afro-origin for music enthusiasts worldwide. “I am so excited to visit Rwanda and meet all the amazing nominees and artists who will be performing at the Trace Awards.”
D’Banj, a pioneering figure in the contemporary Afrobeats genre, he is a singer, rapper, and television personality with a career spanning over than two decades and a long list of top-charting singles, including “Oliver Twist,” “Fall in Love,” “Scapegoat,” and “Mr Endowed.” He co-founded Mo’ Hits Records with another Afrobeats veteran, Don Jazzy.
The musician is also well known for his charitable work, especially his dedication to inspiring African kids through his Koko Foundation and the Cream Platform, a cutting-edge talent discovery and support platform designed to showcase and nurture up-and-coming African artists.
In contrast, Borges initially made a name for herself in the fashion industry in 2010 after joining the esteemed firm Supreme Management. She soon found herself strutting the runways for the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, including Emporio Armani, Diane von Fürstenberg, Dior, Balmain, Banana Republic, and Erdem. She was the first African lady to wear natural short hair on the cover of Elle magazine in the US in 2017, generating news and championing diversity and natural beauty in the fashion industry.
“D’Banj and Maria Borges are the perfect hosts for the inaugural Trace Awards,” Trace co-founder and chairman Olivier Laouchez said. “As trailblazers in the music and fashion industries they have inspired countless young people, pushed the boundaries of creativity and had a major cultural impact in Africa and around the world. We look forward to welcoming them to Rwanda in October for an unforgettable night celebrating African and Afro-inspired music and culture.”
The Trace Awards, which are aimed towards fans of music and culture with African and Afro-inspired influences, will air live on October 21, 2023 on Trace TV, radio, and digital channels as well as on international streaming services (YouTube), local terrestrial TV, and satellite channels. More than 500 million viewers and social media interactions are anticipated across 190 nations.
Afrobeats, dancehall, hip hop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, and bongo flava are just a few of the genres that will be honoured during the ceremony. Other confirmed performers include Nigeria’s Davido, Kizz Daniel, and Asake, Ghana’s Black Sherif, and Senegal’s Viviane Chidid. Others include Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda), Didi B (Ivory Coast), Josey (Ivory Coast), Benjamin Dube (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa), and Dystinct (Morocco).
With almost 40 nominations overall, Nigerians are the most nominated nation this year, with multiple nominations each for Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML, and Rema.
See the full list of nominees below:
Album of the Year
- DNK – Aya Nakamura (France)
- Love Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Maverick – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
- More Love, Less Ego – Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Timeless – Davido (Nigeria)
- Work of Art – Asake (Nigeria)
Song of the Year
- BKBN – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
- People – Libianca (Cameroon)
- Suavemente – Soolking (France)
- Encre – Emma’a (Gabon)
- Sugarcane – Camidoh (Ghana)
- Last Last – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Rush – Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Calm Down – Rema (Nigeria)
- Peru – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
- Sete – K.O (South Africa)
- Cough – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
- MORTEL 06 – Innoss’B (Ivory Coast)
Best Male
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- K.O (South Africa)
- Rema (Nigeria)
Best Female
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
- Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
- Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Music Video
- 2 Sugar – Wizkid (Nigeria) ft. Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Baddie – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
- Kpaflotage – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
- Loaded – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
- Ronda – Blxckie (South Africa)
- Tombolo – Kalash (Martinique)
- Yatapita – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best Newcomer (Sponsored by Maison Martell)
- Azawi (Uganda)
- Krys M (Cameroon)
- Libianca (Cameroon)
- Nissi (Nigeria)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
- Roselyne Layo (Ivory Coast)
Best Collaboration (Sponsored by Maison Martell)
- Many Ways – BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Mine – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
- Peru – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
- Second Sermon – Black Sherif (Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Sete – K.O (South Africa) with Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
- Stamina – Tiwa Savage with Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
- Trumpet – Olamide (Nigeria) with Ckay (Nigeria)
- Unavailable – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
Best DJ
- Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
- DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
- DJ Illans (France)
- DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
- Michael Brun (Haiti)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best Producer
- DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
- Juls (Ghana)
- Kabza de Small (South Africa)
- Kel-P (Nigeria)
- Tamsir (Ivory Coast)
Best Gospel Artist
- Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
- Janet Otieno (Kenya)
- KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
- Levixone (Uganda)
- Moses Bliss (Nigeria)
Best Live
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Fally Ipupa (DRC)
- Musa Keys (South Africa)
- The Compozers (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Dancer
- Robot Boii (South Africa)
- Tayc (France)
- Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
- Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
Best Artist Africa – Anglophone
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Best Artist Africa – Francophone
- Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- Emma’a (Gabon)
- Fally Ipupa (DRC)
- KO-C (Cameroon)
- Locko (Cameroon)
- Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)
- Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Artist Africa – Lusophone
- Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
- Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
- Perola (Angola)
- Plutonio (Mozambique)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artist – Rwanda
- Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Bwiza (Rwanda)
- Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
- Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
Best Artist – France & Belgium
- Aya Nakamura (France)
- Booba (France)
- Nihno (France)
- Ronisia (France)
- Soolking (France)
- Tayc (France)
Best Artist – UK
- Central Cee (UK)
- Headie One (UK)
- Ms Banks (UK)
- Raye (UK)
- Stormzy (UK)
Best Artist – The Caribbean
- Admiral T (Guadeloupe)
- Bamby (French Guiana)
- Kalash (Martinique)
- Maureen (Martinique)
- Popcaan (Jamaica)
- Princess Lover (Martinique)
- Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
- Shenseea (Jamaica)
Best Artist – Indian Ocean
- Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
- GaEi (Madagascar)
- Goulam (Comoros)
- Mikl (Reunion)
- Sega el (Reunion)
- Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)
Best Artist – North Africa
- Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
- Artmasta (Tunisia
- Dystinct (Morocco
- ElGrandeToto (Morocco)
- Kader Japonais (Algeria)
- Raja Meziane (Algeria)
