The global music powerhouse, Trace Music has unveiled its inaugural Trace Awards 2023 on 21, October 2023 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

Over 150 musicians competed for the awards in a presentation that lit up the stage, celebrating the great impact of Afro-centric music from Afrobeat to Dancehall, Afro-pop to Hip Pop, Amapiano to Mbalax and beyond.

It was a great event that brought together different types of beats and genres including Bongo Flava, Genge, Coupè Décalé, Rumba, Gospel, Rap, Soukous, Rai and R&B.

The event was hosted by the Nigerian music guru D’Banj and Angolan Super model Maria Borges where a good number of super performances by the likes of Yemi Alade, Davido, Kizz Daniel and Black Sheriff and many others all showed off their talents.

Here is a list of the winners of the Trace Awards 2023

Best Artist France & Belgium – Tayc (France)

Best Producer – Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)

Best Artist UK – Central Cee

Best Music Video – “Baddie” Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Song of the year – Rema (Nigeria)

Best Artist Indian Ocean – Goulam (Comoros)

Best Artist North Africa – Dystinct (Morocco)

Best Artist Francophone Africa – Didi B (Ivory Coast)

Best DJ – Michael Brun (Haiti)

Best Gospel Artist – KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)

Best Artist Anglophone Africa – Asake (Nigeria)

Best Global African Artist – Rema

Best Artist The Caribbean – Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)

Best Newcomer – Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)

Best Collaboration – “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (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)

Best Dancer – Robot Boii (South Africa)

Album of the Year – “Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Best Male Artist – Davido (Nigeria)

Best Female Artist – Viviane Chidid (Senegal)