Nigerian music stars Rema, P-Prime, D’banj, and Mercy Chinwo were among the 2025 Trace Music Awards winners in their respective categories.

The second edition of the Trace Awards took place on Wednesday, February 26, at The Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It celebrated the best of African music, bringing together artistes from across the continent with performances from Black Sherif, Fally Ipupa, Innoss’B, Gaz Mawete, Diamond Platnumz, Alikiba, Zuchu, Marioo, Nandy, Rema, Yemi Alade, Wally Seck, Titom & Yuppe, and Bien.

The ceremony was hosted by Nigerian singer D’banj, aka Bangalee, and media personality Aaliyah Mohamed.

Nigerian Grammy-nominated artiste Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, bagged three awards: the Album of the Year category for his sophomore album, HEIS, which was also nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony; the Best Music Video category for his song DND from his 2023 EP Ravage project and the Best Male Artiste award.

D’banj won the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mercy Chinwo won the Best Gospel Music award category amidst her record label disputes.

P.Prime won Best Producer for his work on “MMS” by Asaka, featuring Wizkid. Meanwhile, Yemi Alade, Wizkid, Tems, Ayra Starr and Burna Boy were nominated in different categories.

Full list of nominees and winners

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 and Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast) (Winner)
Titom, Yuppe and Burna Boy – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
Neyna and MC Acondize – ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ (Cape Verde)
Kocee ft. Patoranking – ‘Credit Alert’ (Cameroon/Nigeria)
Asake and Wizkid – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
Rema and Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck and 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 and 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)

Pan-African Awards (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
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 and 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 (Winner)