Burna Boy, Asake, Yemi Alade, Tems & More Nominated for 2025 Trace Awards

Get ready for the 2025 Trace Awards! Top African artists like Tems, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, and Asake are nominated. Discover the nominees and celebrate African music’s finest.

The Trace Awards, a prestigious ceremony honoring African and Caribbean music, has unveiled its list of nominees for 2025. This year’s nominations feature a diverse array of artists, including established icons and rising stars.

See the full list of 2025 Trace Awards nominations below:

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 ft. 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” (Nigeria/Ghana)
• Tamsir & Team Paiya – “Coup du Marteau” (Ivory Coast)

Best Male Artist

• Rema (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• King Promise (Ghana)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Asake (Nigeria)

Best Female Artist

• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• Makhadzi (South Africa)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)

Best Music Video

• Amaarae – “Co-Star” (Ghana)
• Asake – “Lonely At The Top” (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz – “Komasawa” (Tanzania)
• Tyla – “Jump” (South Africa)
• Tiwa Savage ft. Asake – “Loaded” (Nigeria)
• Davido – “Feel” (Nigeria)
• Rema – “Charm” (Nigeria)

Best New Artist

• Shallipopi (Nigeria)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Spyro (Nigeria)
• Kocee (Cameroon)
• Teniola Aladese (Nigeria)
• Neyna (Cape Verde)

Best Artist (Francophone Africa)

• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Tayc (Cameroon)
• Koffi Olomidé (Congo)
• Fally Ipupa (Congo)
• Tamsir (Senegal)
• Toofan (Togo)

Best Artist (Anglophone Africa)

• Rema (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Asake (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Sauti Sol (Kenya)
• Amaarae (Ghana)

Best African DJ

• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
• DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
• DJ Neptune (Nigeria)
• DJ Lag (South Africa)
• DJ Aroma (Ghana)
• DJ Kess (Ghana)
• DJ Kaneda (Angola)

Best Artist (Diaspora)

• Tems (Nigeria/USA)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria/USA)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria/UK)
• J Hus (UK)
• Headie One (UK)
• Stormzy (UK)
• Aya Nakamura (France)