Oll is set for the maiden TRACE Awards which will hold October 21, 2023, even as the sensational star, Asake battles Burnaboy, Daviso Rema, Diamondz Platinum and others in the Best Male Category.
The award organized by music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker, TRACE has over fifteen categories and will reward African musicians who have made their mark in the music industry.
According to a statement by TRACE, the first ever Trace Awards in Africa will be a live event by the multi-channel global TV company which has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the music industry across Africa with events like TRACE Live, a live concert that holds in Nigeria and other African countries.
TRACE Awards will take place on 21st October, 2023 at the BK Arena, in the tourist friendly and city of Kigali in Rwanda.
For Best female award category, fast rising Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr battles with Josy from Ivory Coast, Nadia Mukani from Kenya, Sorala Ramos from Cape Verde among others make the nominees list.
The Song of the Year category has Last Last by Burna Boy, BKBN, Sorala Ramos, People by sensational BET Award winner, Labianca (Cameroun), Sugarcane by Cumdhi, Rush by Ayra Starr, Calm Down by Rema, Peru by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran, Seke by K.O (South Africa), Cough by Kizz Daniel as nominees.
For the Newcomer of the Year category, nominees such as Azani from Uganda, Labianca from Cameroun, Nissi from Nigeria, Odumodublvck from Nigeria, Pabi Copper from South Africa and Roselin Layo from Ivory Coast, all make up the nominees.
Album of the Year nominees include Love Damini by Burna Boy, Timeless by Davido, Work of Art by Asake, More Love, Less Ego by Wizkid, Maverick byKizz Daniel and DNK by Aya Nakamra.
Olivier Laouchez, Chairman and Co-Founder, TRACE says, “African and African diaspora artists are extraordinarily creative and dynamic. They represent a massive cultural force and deserve more global recognition and celebration.
The Trace Awards’ nominations salute achievement and excellence from more than 150 performers, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, established artists and rising stars, and their management and labels.
We congratulate all the nominees, most of whom will attend and perform in Kigali on 21 October. It will be an unmissable experience for lovers of African and Afro-inspired music.”
The entire African continent will be represented by its best artists at the Trace Awards, showcasing the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.
Competing in 22 award categories are platinum-selling artists from more than thirty countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Europe including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, DRC, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Martinique, Mayotte, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, the UK and Uganda.
The winners will take home one or more Trace Awards Trophies – unique pieces of art designed by acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost. The event is sponsored by tourism agency, Visit Rwanda and Martell.
