Bringing together the continent’s most compelling artistes for a night of celebration and recognition, the 2025 Trace Awards reaffirmed Africa’s status as a hotbed of sonic innovation…
By Abioye Damilare Samson
African stars: Rema, Tyla, Titom & Yuppe, Ayra Starr, Diamond Platnumz, and other top artistes, were among the winners at the 2025 Trace Awards, held on February 26 at Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Bringing together the continent’s most compelling artistes for a night of celebration and recognition, the event reaffirmed Africa’s status as a hotbed of sonic innovation, with Afrobeats, Amapiano and different homegrown genres at the forefront.
South African duo, Titom & Yuppe, claimed the coveted ‘Song of the Year’ award for “Tshwala Bam”, a track whose hypnotic rhythms and high-energy bounce turned it into an undeniable dancefloor staple.
Nigerian superstar, Rema continued his unrelenting winning streak, taking home the ‘Album of the Year’ for HEIS, a project that effortlessly blurs sonic boundaries while amplifying his status as one of Africa’s most exciting exports. He also clinched ‘Best Male Artiste’, further cementing his foothold as a genre-bending force.
Other African winners on the night included Ivorian duo Tam Sir & Team Paiya, who took home ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Coup du Marteau”, while visionary filmmaker, Meji Alabi secured ‘Best Music Video’ for his direction on Rema’s “DND”.
Tanzanian heavyweight, Diamond Platnumz, claimed ‘Best Global African Artiste’, while Ivorian rap sensation, Didi B, was recognised as ‘Best Hip-Hop Artiste’. Nigeria’s Afro-Pop star, Ayra Starr bagged ‘Best West African Artiste’, with South Africa’s Tyla taking home ‘Best Female Artiste’. Nigerian Gospel star, Mercy Chinwo, was honoured as ‘Best Gospel Artiste’, while Tyler ICU’s contributions to the Southern African music landscape were also acknowledged.
The Trace Awards celebrate the richness and excellence of Afro music through genres such as Afrobeats, Dancehall, Afro-Pop, Mbalax, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé-décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Raï, Kompa, RnB, and Rumba.
With artistes from over 30 countries competing in 24 categories, the 2025 edition spotlighted the talent and creativity shaping the global music landscape.
See the complete list of nominees and winners below:
Song of the Year
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: 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 Artiste (Sponsored by Hot 97)
Winner: 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 Artiste
Winner: 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 Artiste
Winner: 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 Artiste
Winner: Tyla (South Africa)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Live Performance
Winner: 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
Winner: 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 Artiste
Winner: 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 Artiste (Eastern Africa)
Winner: Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
Rophnan (Ethiopia)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artiste (Western Africa Anglophone)
Winner: Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Chike (Nigeria)
Simi (Nigeria)
KiDi (Ghana)
Best Artiste (Southern Africa)
Winner: 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 Artiste (Francophone Africa)
Winner: Josey (Ivory Coast)
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Tidiane Mario (Congo)
Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
PhillBill (Cameroon)
Best Artiste (Lusophone Africa)
Winner: Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Landrick (Angola)
Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artiste (Tanzania)
Winner: Nandy (Tanzania)
Mbosso (Zanzibar)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Zanzibar)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Alikiba (Tanzania)
Jux (Tanzania)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artiste (Europe)
Winner: Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti)
Central Cee (United Kingdom)
Kalash (France/Martinique)
Darkoo (United Kingdom)
Jungeli (France)
Franglish (France)
Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)
Best Artiste (Brazil)
Winner: Duquesa (Brazil)
Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
MC IG (Brazil)
Péricles (Brazil)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Best Artiste (Caribbean)
Winner: Lea Churro (Reunion Island)
Venssy (French Guiana)
Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
Meryl (Martinique)
Nesly (French Guiana)
Shenseea (Jamaica)
Kenny Haiti (Haiti)
Best Artiste (Indian Ocean)
Winner: Barth (Reunion)
Goulam (Comoros)
PLL (Reunion)
Kalipsxau (Reunion)
Léa Churros (Reunion)
Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: D’Banj