In a star-studded evening filled with joy and celebration, the highly anticipated 2023 Trace Awards took place last night in Kigali, Rwanda, with Nigeria’s Davido picking the Best Male Artist and Rema winning the Global African Artist Awards and Best Song.
Davido also took home the shared Best Collaboration with South Africa’s Musa Keys for “Unavailable”. while Rema’s “Calm Down” won him the Song of the Year.
“Love Damini” by Burna Boy scored the prize for Best Album, and Vivian Chidid received the plaudits for Best Female.
The entire African continent was represented by its best artists at the Trace Awards, showcasing the excellence and diversity of Afrocentric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, and rap, among many other genres.
Competing in 22 award categories were platinum-selling artists from more than 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Europe, Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, the DRC, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, and many other countries.
The Best Artist – East Africa was won by Diamond Platnumz, while Rwandan local star Bruce Melodie triumphed in the Best Rwandan Artist category.
Didi B took home the silverware for Ivory Coast as Best Artist Africa—Francophone, while his fellow countrymen KS Bloom and Tam Sir scored in the Best Gospel Artist and Best Producer categories. Lisandro Cuxi was named Best Artist Africa—Lusophone.
Recognising his long and storied music career, Nigeria’s 2Face took home the prize for lifetime achievement.
Rutshelle Guillance was named Best Artist—Caribbean, while Goulam triumphed as Best Artist—Indian Ocean, and Dystinct won Best Artist—North Africa.
Mr. Eazi won Changmaker award
Yemi Alade’s hit “Baddie” took home the prize for Best Video, while music maker and entrepreneur Mr. Eazi took home a special ChangeMarker award for his philanthropic work.
British rapper Central Cee triumphed as Best Artist (UK), while Tayc took home the trophy for Best Artist (France and Belgium). Ludmilla took home the trophy for Best Artist—Brazil, and Michael Brun was named Best DJ for Haiti.
The winners took home Trace Awards Trophies—unique pieces of art designed by acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost.
It was the first time Trace, a global music taste-house that has been exporting Afro-music to the rest of the world for the last two decades, recognised African musicians in a colourful award ceremony in Kigali’s BK Arena on Saturday, October 21.
