October 23, (THEWILL) – Nigerian artistes, David Adeleke, aka Davido and Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, won big at the just concluded 2023 Trace Awards held in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday, October 21.
The award ceremony was the inaugural edition which showcased the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.
The award ceremony was anchored by Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, alongside Angolan global supermodel, Maria Borges.
It featured a star-studded lineup of performers including Davido, Yemi Alade, Black Sherif, Kizz Daniel and more.
Rema won two awards; ‘Song of the year’ for his smash hit record Calm Down and ‘Best Global African Artiste,’ alongside South African act, Nomcebo Zikode.
Davido bagged two awards, ‘Best Male and Best Collaboration,’ while Burna Boy snagged the Album of the Year award for his Love Damini’ project.
Yemi Alade also won an award for Best Music Video for her song, Baddie.
Mr Eazi got the change maker award, while Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, got the lifetime achievement award.
Unfortunately, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, got no award.
See below, the full list of winners
Best Music Video – “Baddie” Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Artist France & Belgium – Tayc (France)
Best Producer – Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)
Best Artist North Africa – Dystinct (Morocco)
Best Artist UK – Central Cee
Best Artist Indian Ocean – Goulam (Comoros)
Best Artist Francophone Africa – Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Best DJ – Michael Brun (Haiti)
Best Gospel Artist – KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
Best Artist The Caribbean – Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
Best Artist Anglophone Africa – Asake (Nigeria)
Best Global African Artist – Rema
Best Newcomer – Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
Best Collaboration – “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
Best Dancer – Robot Boii (South Africa)
Best Artist Lusophone Africa – Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
Changemaker Trace Award – Mr Eazi (Nigeria)
Best Live – Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Lifetime Achievement Award – 2Baba (Nigeria)
Album of the Year – “Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Best Female Artist – Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Male Artist – Davido (Nigeria)
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
