Rema, Dbanj, Mercy Chinwo Shine as TRACE Awards 2025 Celebrates African Music in Zanzibar

The TRACE Awards 2025 took place on February 26 at the Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania, honoring outstanding talents across Africa and beyond. The event celebrated the richness of Afro music, featuring genres like Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop, and Afropop.

Artists from over 30 countries competed in 24 categories, showcasing their creativity and influence on the global music scene. Nigerian stars Rema, Mercy Chinwo, Ayra Starr, and Dbanj were among the night’s big winners.

Rema took home multiple awards, including Album of the Year for Heis, Best Music Video for DND, and Best Male Artiste. Dbanj received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mercy Chinwo won Best Gospel Artiste. Nigerian producer P.Priime also secured Best Producer.

Tanzanian singer Juma Jux and his wife, Priscilla, made a stylish appearance at the ceremony. The inaugural TRACE Awards were held in 2023, with Burna Boy and Davido earning nominations.

Full List of Winners

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 Male Artiste

• 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 Artiste

• Tyla (South Africa) – WINNER
• Makhadzi (South Africa)
• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

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

Best Artist Western Africa Anglophone

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – WINNER

Best Artist Southern Africa

• Tyler ICU (South Africa) – WINNER

Best Artist Francophone Africa

• Josey (Ivory Coast) – WINNER

Best Artist Lusophone Africa

• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola) – WINNER

Best Artist Tanzania

• Nandy (Tanzania) – WINNER

International and Diaspora Awards

Best Artist Europe

• Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) – WINNER

Best Artist Brazil

• Duquesa (Brazil) – WINNER

Best Artist Caribbean

• Lea Churro (Reunion Island) – WINNER

Best Artist Indian Ocean

• Barth (Reunion) – WINNER

Special Recognition

Lifetime Achievement Award

• D’Banj (Nigeria)

The TRACE Awards 2025 showcased Africa’s growing influence in the global music industry, celebrating both emerging and legendary talents from across the continent.