The Trace Awards 2025 took the music world by storm on February 26, 2025, at the stunning Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania, wrapping up an exhilarating three-day Trace Awards & Summit. Broadcast live to over 200 countries and captivating an estimated 500 million viewers, this year’s Trace Awards 2025 celebrated the heartbeat of African and Afro-inspired music. With a unique voting system—50% from fans and 50% from an expert jury—the event spotlighted top talent across genres like Afrobeat, Amapiano, and beyond.
The Trace Awards 2025 delivered standout moments with its early confirmed winners lighting up the night. Nigeria’s P.Priime claimed Best Producer for his work on MMS, cementing his status as a beat-making powerhouse. South Africa’s Makhadzi stole the show as Best Dancer, her dynamic moves earning thunderous applause. In the regional spotlight, Ivory Coast’s Josey won Best Artist Francophone Africa, while Angola’s Chelsea Dinorath took Best Artist Lusophone Africa, and Brazil’s Duquesa triumphed as Best Artist Brazil, showcasing the global reach of Afro-inspired talent.
See the full Trace Awards 2025 winners list below;
Global Awards
Song of the Year
- Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa) – WINNNER
- 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
- Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
- Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
- Rema – Heis (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
- Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
- King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
- Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
- Toofan – Stamina (Togo)
Best Collaboration
- 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)
- Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
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
- 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 Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria) – WINNER
- DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop Artist
- Nasty C (South Africa)
- Didi B (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
- Sarkodie (Ghana)
- Young Lunya (Tanzania)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
READ MORE: Ranking All Diamond Platnumz Albums From Worst To Best
Pan-African Awards
Best Global African Artist
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU (South Africa)
- Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Asake (Nigeria/USA)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – WINNER
Best Male Artist
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria) – WINNER
- 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 Newcomer
- Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
- Himra (Ivory Coast)
- Sabrina (Cameroon)
- Mia Guissé (Senegal)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Qing Madi (Nigeria)
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
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
- Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
- KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
- Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
- Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
- Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Regional Awards
Best Artist Eastern Africa
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Bien (Kenya) – WINNER
- Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
- Rophnan (Ethiopia)
- Marioo (Tanzania)
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
- Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
- Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
- Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Chike (Nigeria)
- Simi (Nigeria)
- KiDi (Ghana)
Best Artist (Southern Africa)
- Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
- De Mthuda (South Africa)
- Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU (South Africa) – WINNER
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)
- Mbosso (Tanzania)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Zuchu (Zanzibar)
- Marioo (Tanzania)
- Nandy (Tanzania) – WINNER
- Alikiba (Tanzania)
- Jux (Tanzania)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
READ MORE: Tems, Meek Mill And Others Set To Perform At The Roots Picnic Festival
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artist (Europe)
- Central Cee (United Kingdom)
- Kalash (France/Martinique)
- Darkoo (United Kingdom)
- Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) – WINNER
- 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)
- Venssy (French Guiana)
- Mathieu White (Guadeloupe) – WINNER
- 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