The 2025 Trace Awards: Full List of Winners

The 2025 Trace Awards ceremony, held on February 26 in Zanzibar, celebrated the richness and excellence of Afro music across various genres. Nigerian superstar Rema, who also performed at the event, secured two major wins—Album of the Year for HEIS and Best Male Artist while Ayra Starr, P. Priime, and Mercy Chinwo also took home awards, winning Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone), Best Producer (MMS), and Best Gospel Artist, respectively.

The Trace Awards highlight genres such as Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, Afropop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé-décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, raï, kompa, R&B, and rumba. Artists from over 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe competed in 24 categories.

Here is a comprehensive list of all winners:

Song of the Year
Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)

Album of the Year
Rema – HEIS (Nigeria)

Best Collaboration
Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)

Best Music Video
Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria)

Best Dancer
Makhadzi (South Africa)

Best DJ
DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria)

Best Hip Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
Didi B (Ivory Coast)

Best Global African Artist
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Best Male Artist
Rema (Nigeria)

Best Female Artist
Tyla (South Africa)

Best Live Performance
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Best Producer
P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)

Best Gospel Artist
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)

Regional Awards

Best Artist (Eastern Africa)
Bien (Kenya)

Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Best Artist (Southern Africa)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)

Best Artist (Francophone Africa)
Josey (Ivory Coast)

Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)

Best Artist (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)

International and Diaspora Awards

Best Artist (Europe)
Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti)

Best Artist (Brazil)
Duquesa (Brazil)

Best Artist (Caribbean)
Lea Churro (Reunion Island)

Best Artist (Indian Ocean)
Barth (Reunion)

Lifetime Achievement Award

D’Banj