[ENT/MUSIC NEWS] Rema, Burna Boy, other Afrobeats stars get 2025 Trace Awards nomination

Nigerian stars earn multiple nominations for the 2025 Trace Awards which is set to take place in Zanzibar.

Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, Yemi Alade, and other Nigerian stars have earned nominations for the 2025 Trace Awards.

The prestigious ceremony is scheduled for February 26, 2025, in Zanzibar, as part of a two-day event that will also feature a music summit.

The Trace Awards recognize excellence in African music, highlighting artists who continue to break global boundaries.

Nigerian artists dominate the Song of the Year category, with Asake, Rema, Shallipopi, Burna Boy, and Tems all earning nominations.

In the Album of the Year category, Asake’s Lungu Boy, Rema’s HEIS, and Burna Boy’s I Told Them will compete with other top African artists, including Ghana’s Amarae, King Promise, and Stonebwoy.

Full Nominee List for the 2025 Trace Awards:

Song of the Year

• Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
• Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
• Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
• Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
• 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 (DRC)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Asake (Nigeria/USA)
• Rema (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Best Male Artist

• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• 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 Western Africa Anglophone

• Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
• Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Chike (Nigeria)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• KiDi (Ghana)

Best Artist Southern Africa

• Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
• De Mthuda (South Africa)
• Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU (South Africa)

Best Artist Francophone Africa

• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Tidiane Mario (Congo)
• Gaz Mawete (DRC)
• Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
• PhillBill (Cameroon)

Best Artist Lusophone Africa

• Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
• Landrick (Angola)
• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
• Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
• Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artist Tanzania

• Mbosso (Zanzibar)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Zanzibar)
• Marioo (