Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, Yemi Alade, and other Nigerian stars secure 2025 Trace Award nominations.
The award ceremony is set to hold in Zanzibar on February 26, 2025 as part of a two day event that includes a music summit.
The award aims to recognise excellence in African music including awarding stars who continues to break global barriers.
Nigerian stars dominate the Song of the Year category with Asake, Rema, Shallipopi, Burna Boy, and Tems all getting nods.
For the album of the year Asake‘s ‘Lungu Boy’, Rema‘s ‘HEIS’, and Burna Boy‘s ‘I Told Them’ will be competing with other artists from Africa including Ghainain stars Amarae, King Promise, and Stonebwoy.
The nomination list for 2025 Trace Awards
Song of the Year
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Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
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Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
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Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
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Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
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Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
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Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
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Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
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Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
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Diamond Platnumz – ‘Komasawa’ (Tanzania)
Album of the Year
Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
Rema – Heis (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
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)
Best Music Video
Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria)
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
Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
Telminho (Angola)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
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)
DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
Nasty C (South Africa), Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria), Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Young Lunya (Tanzania)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
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)
Best Male Artist
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Asake (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Best Female Artist
Tyla (South Africa)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Newcomer (sponsored by Johnnie Walker)
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)
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
Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)
P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
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)
Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Best Artist Eastern Africa
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Bien (Kenya)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
Rophnan (Ethiopia)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artist (Brazil)
Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
MC IG (Brazil)
Péricles (Brazil)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Duquesa (Brazil)
