Africa’s music scene witnessed a night of glitz, glamour, and historic wins at the 2025 Trace Awards, where some of the continent’s biggest stars cemented their dominance. 

The event, held at the stunning Mora Resort in Zanzibar, brought together top artistes, producers, and industry stakeholders to celebrate excellence in African and Afro-inspired music.

One of the biggest winners of the night was Rema, who clinched two major awards—‘Album of the Year’ for Heisand ‘Best Male Artiste’—further solidifying his status as a global force in the music industry. 

His fellow Nigerian star Ayra Starr continued her winning streak by being named ‘Best West African Artiste’, while gospel powerhouse Mercy Chinwo took home the ‘Best Gospel Artiste’ award for her inspirational and soul-lifting music.

The evening also served as a moment of recognition for Afrobeats icon D’banj, who was honoured with the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his contributions to the growth of African music on the global stage. 

The legendary artiste, known for his charisma and genre-defining hits, received a standing ovation from the audience.

Beyond Nigeria, South African music had a strong presence at the awards. Amapiano sensations Titom & Yuppe won ‘Song of the Year’ for Tshwala Bam, a track that dominated dance floors worldwide. 

Grammy-winning star Tyla earned the title of ‘Best Female Artiste’, while Makhadzi’s electrifying performances secured her the ‘Best Dancer’ award. Additionally, Diamond Platnumz was named ‘Best Global African Artiste’, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in the continent’s music industry.

Other winners included Ivorian rapper Didi B, who took home ‘Best Hip Hop Artiste’, and DJ Moh Green from Algeria, who won ‘Best DJ’. In the regional categories, Josey (Ivory Coast) was named ‘Best French-Speaking Artiste’, Tyler ICU (Southern Africa) secured his place as a leading act, Bien (Kenya) won ‘Best East African Artiste’, and Chelsea Dinorath (Angola) was crowned ‘Best Portuguese-Speaking Artiste’.