Sauti Sol’s Bien, Diamond Platnumz, Rema shine at 2025 Trace Awards in Zanzibar

Bien of Sauti Sol made history, clinching the Best East African Artist award as Diamond Platnumz and Nigeria’s Rema bagged Best Global African Artist and Album of the Year respectively  (Photo:Bien, Diamond Platnumz, Rema/Instagram)

The 2025 Trace Awards lit up Zanzibar on February 26, celebrating Africa’s biggest music stars in a night of glamour, electrifying performances, and historic wins.

This year’s event showcased the continent’s undeniable global influence, with Afrobeats, Amapiano, and various African music styles taking centre stage.

Kenyan superstar Bien of Sauti Sol made history, clinching the Best East African Artist award.

The singer-songwriter, known for his smooth vocals and lyrical depth, edged out regional heavyweights like Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, and Uganda’s Joshua Baraka. The win cements Bien’s status as a top-tier solo artist following Sauti Sol’s hiatus.

Nigerian sensation Rema continued his global takeover, bagging Album of the Year for Heis—a project that seamlessly fuses Afrobeats with international sounds. The “Calm Down” hitmaker also scooped Best Male Artist, further solidifying his dominance.

Tanzanian megastar Diamond Platnumz reaffirmed his place as one of Africa’s biggest exports, winning Best Global African Artist.

His latest hit Komasawa has been making waves, and this award is a testament to his ever-expanding international reach.

South Africa’s Tyla won Best Female Artist, continuing her meteoric rise.

Mercy Chinwo took home Best Gospel Artist for her soul-stirring music.

Tam Sir & Team Paiya from Ivory Coast won Best Collaboration for the electrifying track Coup du Marteau.

Rema’s ‘DND’ music video, directed by Meji Alabi, bagged Best Music Video.

Makhadzi proved her stage dominance, winning Best Dancer for her high-energy performances.

The Trace Awards 2025 was a spectacle of African excellence, showcasing the continent’s ever-growing impact on the global music scene.

Full List of winners and nominees for the prestigious awards below:

Song of the Year

Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)

Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)

Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (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

Rema – Heis (Nigeria)

Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)

Asake – Lungu Boy (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

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

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)

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

Makhadzi (South Africa)

Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)

Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)

Incredible Zigi (Ghana)

Kamo Mphela (South Africa)

Telminho (Angola)

Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)

Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Best DJ

DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria)

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 Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)

Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop Artist

Didi B (Ivory Coast)

Nasty C (South Africa)

Odumodublvck (Nigeria)

Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Young Lunya (Tanzania)

Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)

Pan-African Awards

Best Global African Artist

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Tyla (South Africa)

Tyler ICU (South Africa)

Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Asake (Nigeria/USA)

Rema (Nigeria)

Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Best Male Artist

Rema (Nigeria)

Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)

Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Asake (Nigeria)

Burna Boy (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 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

P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)

Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)

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

Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)

Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)

KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)

Ada Ehi (Nigeria)

Bella Kombo (Tanzania)

Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)

Regional Awards

Best Artist Eastern Africa

Bien (Kenya)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Joshua Baraka (Uganda)

Harmonize (Tanzania)

Rophnan (Ethiopia)

Marioo (Tanzania)

Zuchu (Tanzania)

Nandy (Tanzania)

Best Artist Western Africa (Anglophone)

Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)

Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)

Tems (Nigeria)

Chike (Nigeria)

Simi (Nigeria)

KiDi (Ghana)

Best Artist Southern Africa

Tyler ICU (South Africa)

Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)

De Mthuda (South Africa)

Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)

Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)

Tyla (South Africa)

Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Best Artist Francophone Africa

Josey (Ivory Coast)

Didi B (Ivory Coast)

Tidiane Mario (Congo)

Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Wally B. Seck (Senegal)

PhillBill (Cameroon)

Best Artist Lusophone Africa

Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)

Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)

Landrick (Angola)

Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)

Mr. Bow (Mozambique)

Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Lifetime Achievement Award

D’Banj