Music
The nominations for the 2025 Trace Awards are here, and Nigerian stars are making their mark across multiple categories. The awards ceremony will take place on February 26 in Zanzibar, accompanied by a music summit to celebrate the talent and global impact of African music.
From Burna Boy to Rema, Asake, Tems, and Yemi Alade, Nigerian artists are recognised across multiple categories. The Song of the Year lineup features hits like Asake and Travis Scott’s “Active,” Rema and Shallipopi’s “Benin Boys,” and Tems’ “Love Me Jeje.” Burna Boy is also recognised for his track “Higher.”
In the Album of the Year category, Asake’s “Lungu Boy,” Rema’s “HEIS,” and Burna Boy’s “I Told Them“ are nominated alongside projects from Ghanaian stars Amaarae “Fountain Baby,” King Promise “True To Self,” and Stonebwoy “5th Dimension.”
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)