Full list of 2023 Trace Awards winners

Nigerian artists Davido and Rema emerged as significant winners at the recently concluded 2023 Trace Awards, held in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday, October 21.

Rema secured two prestigious awards, claiming the ‘Song of the Year’ honor for his chart-topping track, ‘Calm Down,’ and the title of ‘Best Global African Artiste,’ sharing the latter accolade with South African artist Nomcebo Zikode.

Davido clinched two coveted awards himself, receiving recognition as the ‘Best Male’ artist and winning the ‘Best Collaboration’ category. In addition, Burna Boy was honored with the ‘Album of the Year’ award for his exceptional work, ‘Love Damini.’

Here are some of the key awards and winners at the 2023 Trace Awards:

Album of the Year

• DNK – Aya Nakamura (France)
• WINNER: Love Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Maverick – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
• More Love, Less Ego – Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Timeless – Davido (Nigeria)
• Work of Art – Asake (Nigeria)

Song of the Year

• “BKBN” – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
• “People” – Libianca (Cameroon)
• “Suavemente” – Soolking (France)
• “Encre” – Emma’a (Gabon)
• “Sugarcane” – Camidoh (Ghana)
• “Last Last” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• “Rush” – Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• WINNER: “Calm Down” – Rema (Nigeria)
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (U.K.)
• “Sete” – K.O. (South Africa)
• “Cough” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
• “MORTEL 06” – Innoss’B (DRC)

Best Music Video

• “2 Sugar” – Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• WINNER: “Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• “Kpaflotage” – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
• “Loaded” – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
• “Ronda” – Blxckie (South Africa)
• “Tombolo” – Kalash (Martinique)
• “Yatapita” – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Best Male

• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• WINNER: Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• K.O. (South Africa)
• Rema (Nigeria)

Best Female

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• WINNER: Viviane Chidid (Senegal)

Best Collaboration

• “Many Ways” – BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
• “Mine” – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (U.K.)
• “Second Sermon” – Black Sherif (Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• “Sete” – K.O. (South Africa) with Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
• “Stamina” – Tiwa Savage with Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
• “Trumpet” – Olamide (Nigeria) with Ckay (Nigeria)
• WINNER: “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)

This ceremony also recognized excellence in various other categories, celebrating talent from Africa and around the world.