The 2025 Trace Awards was a night of celebration for Nigerian artists, as Rema, Mercy Chinwo, D’banj, and Ayra Starr emerged as some of the biggest winners.
The prestigious awards ceremony, held on Wednesday, February 26, at the scenic Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania, brought together top talents from across Africa and the global diaspora.
Rema stood out with two major wins, securing the Album of the Year award for ‘Heis’ and being named Best Male Artist. Ayra Starr, known for her consistent rise in the industry, was recognised as Best West African Artist.
In the gospel category, Mercy Chinwo’s impact was acknowledged as she won Best Gospel Artist, while veteran musician D’banj was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the music industry.
Other notable Nigerian winners included P.Priime, who won Best Producer for his work on ‘MMS’, and Meji Alabi, who took home Best Music Video for directing Rema’s ‘DND’.
The event showcased the vibrancy of African music, with artists from different regions claiming top prizes.
Below is the full list of winners and nominees:
Global Awards
Song of the Year
Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
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 (sponsored by Hot 97)
Didi B (Ivory Coast) WINNER
Nasty C (South Africa)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Young Lunya (Tanzania)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Best Global African Artist
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Live Performance
Fally Ipupa (DRC) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
Rophnan (Ethiopia)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria) WINNER
Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Chike (Nigeria)
Simi (Nigeria)
KiDi (Ghana)
Best Artist (Southern Africa)
Tyler ICU (South Africa) WINNER
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) WINNER
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) WINNER
Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Landrick (Angola)
Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artist (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania) WINNER
Mbosso (Zanzibar)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Zanzibar)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Alikiba (Tanzania)
Jux (Tanzania)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artist (Europe)
Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) WINNER
Central Cee (United Kingdom)
Kalash (France/Martinique)
Darkoo (United Kingdom)
Jungeli (France)
Franglish (France)
Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)
Best Artist (Brazil)
Duquesa (Brazil) WINNER
Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
MC IG (Brazil)
Péricles (Brazil)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Best Artist (Caribbean)
Lea Churro (Reunion Island) WINNER
Venssy (French Guiana)
Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
Meryl (Martinique)
Nesly (French Guiana)
Shenseea (Jamaica)
Kenny Haiti (Haiti)
Best Artist (Indian Ocean)
Barth (Reunion) WINNER
Goulam (Comoros)
PLL (Reunion)
Kalipsxau (Reunion)
Léa Churros (Reunion)
Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)
Lifetime Achievement Award
D’Banj