Nigeria dominates the 2023 Trace Awards in Kigali

Nigerian artists were the toast of the 2023 Trace Awards as they clinched several awards during the award ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda. Nigerian stars Davido and Rema won two awards each as Nigeria with Davido taking home the prizes for Best Male, and shared Best Collaboration with South Africa’s Musa Keys for “Unavailable”.

Rema‘s musical stars continued to shine bright as he bagged the Global African Artiste, and Song of the Year categories, with “Calm Down”.  On a night that Burna Boy, also from Nigeria, bagged a huge prize for Best Album with his hit “Love Damini”, it was a flawless night for the Nigerians as the kings of African music.

Here’s a list of all winners of the 2023 Trace Awards.

How the 2023 Trace Awards went down

It was three days of thrilling African music, celebrations, and opulence. Approximately 55 artists converged in Kigali’s BK Arena to celebrate the crème de la crème of African music. The 2023 Trace Awards featured electric performances from several artists as audiences waited with bated breath for the announcement of the winners. According to Billboard, about 50 artists performed during the ceremony.

The 2023 Trace Award winner Yemi Alade who clinched an award for the best video with her hit ” Baddie”, thrilled fans with electric performance. Bongo Flavor icon Diamond Platnumz also sent the audience into a frenzy with his Swahili hits and a highlight performance of his hit with Congolese musician Koffi Olomide.

In a night of diversity that showed the excellence of African Lifestyle, artists performed Afro-centric music in genres including Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.

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Trace Awards organises presented winners’ trophies and unique pieces of art. According to TRT Africa, the gifts were also a masterpiece demonstrating African creativity. Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost designed the gifts.

Here is the list of all the winners

Album of the Year

Love Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Best Artiste – East Africa

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Best Live

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

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