Trace has released the list of nominees for its inaugural awards show set to take place on October 21, 2023, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. It promises to be a global celebration of African and Afro-inspired music and culture.

With a live event and a televised broadcast reaching 500 million viewers across 190 countries, the show aims to recognize and honor the creativity, talent, and influence of artists, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, and record labels.

Platinum-selling artists from over 30 countries, spanning Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe, will compete in 22 award categories. The winners’ trophy was designed by acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost.

The Trace Awards will shine a spotlight on a diverse array of music genres, including Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, rai, kompa, R&B, and rumba.

Leading the pack of nominees are West African artists who have made their mark on the Afrobeats scene. Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML, Asake, and Rema garnered over 40 nominations collectively.

With multiple nominations in categories like “Best Male,” “Song of the Year,” “Best Live,” “Best Collaboration,” “Best Artist,” and “Album of the Year,” Davido and Burna Boy stand out with four nominations each.

See the full list of nominees below:

Best Male

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)

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 Music Video

“2 Sugar” Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. 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 Belaire)

Azawi (Uganda)

Krys M (Cameroon)

Libianca (Cameroon)

Nissi (Nigeria)

Odumodublvck (Nigeria)

Pabi Cooper (South Africa) 

Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)

Best Artist – UK

Headie One (UK)

Ms Banks (UK)

Stormzy (UK)

Raye (UK)

Best Artist Carribean 

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 – Brazil

Djonga (Brazil)

Iza (Brazil)

Leo Santana (Brazil)

Ludmilla (Brazil)

Luedji Luna (Brazil)

Best Artist North Africa 

Amira Zouhair (Morocco)

Artmasta (Tunisia)

Dystinct (Morocco)

El Grande Toto (Morocco)

Kader Japonais (Algeria) 

Raja Meziane (Algeria)

Aya Nakamura (France)

Album of the Year

Love, Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Maverick – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)

More Love, Less Ego – Wizkid (Nigeria)

Timeless – Davido (Nigeria)

Work of Art – Asake (Nigeria)

Best Collaboration 

“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 Star(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)

Benjamin Dube (South Africa)

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)