Tyla, Burna Boy and Diamond Platnumz lead nominations at The Trace Awards 2025
Tyla, Tyler ICU and Makhadzi are among the South African musicians who are leading The Trace Awards & Summit 2025 nominations.
The ceremony, which has been dubbed one of the most prestigious musical events on the African continent, will take place in Zanzibar on February 26.
The gathering aims to unite the continent and the diaspora’s greatest talents.
A statement explained that Africa is home to many musical styles that profoundly influence contemporary sounds worldwide .
“The Trace Awards highlight the richness and excellence of Afro music through genres such as Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, Afro-pop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé-décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, raï, kompa, RnB and rumba.”
It added that artists from over 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Europe are competing in 24 categories.
Voting for the awards opens on Thursday, January 2, and closes on February 15. Votes account for 50% of the final decision with the other half set to result from expert jury votes.
Grammy Award-winning Mzansi-born superstar Tyla’s hit track “Jump” will compete against her South African counterparts, including Tyler ICU’s “Mnike” and Titom & Yuppe’s viral song “Tshwala Bam”, in the Song of the Year category.
For Album of the Year, the top contenders are Burna Boy’s “I Told Them”, “Lungu Boy” by Asake and Stonebwoy’s “5th Dimension.”
Meanwhile, South African stars dominate the Best DJ category, with Tyler ICU, Uncle Waffles, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small among the nominees.
Tyla will also battle it out with the likes of Makhadzi, Ayra Starr, Tems and Yemi Alade for Best Female Artist while Dlala Thukzin, Diamond Platnumz, Asake, Burna Boy and Rema compete for Best Male Artist.
Here are the full list of nominees:
Song of the Year
Tyla: “Jump”
Tyler ICU: “Mnike”
Titom & Yuppe: “Tshwala Bam”
Tamsir x Team Paiya: “Coup du Marteau”
Asake & Travis Scott : “Active”
Tems: “Love Me Jeje”
Burna Boy: “Higher”
Rema & Shallipopi: “Benin Boys”
Diamond Platnumz: “Komasawa”
Album of the Year
Burna Boy: “I Told Them”
Asake: “Lungu Boy”
Rema – “Heis“
Josey: “Vibration Universelle”
Amaarae: “Fountain Baby”
King Promise: “True To Self”
Stonebwoy: “5th Dimension”
Toofan: “Stamina”
Best Collaboration
Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy: “Tshwala Bam” (Remix)
Neyna & MC Acondize: “Nu Ka Sta Para”
Kocee ft. Patoranking: “Credit Alert”
Asake & Wizkid: “MMS”
Rema & Shallipopi: “Benin Boys”
Odumodublvck & Black Sherif: “Woto Woto Seasoning”
Tamsir & Team Paiya: “Coup du Marteau”
Best Music Video
Meji Alabi for Rema “DND”
TG Omori for Kizz Daniel & Davido “Twe Twe”
Director Folex for Zuchu feat Innoss’ B “Nani” (Remix)
Nabil Elderkin for Tyla “Jump”
Kmane for Ayra Starr “Commas”
Seoute Emmanuel for Toofan “C Pas Normal”
Ach’B for Innoss’ B “Sete”
Edgar Esteves for Asake & Wizkid “MMS”
Best Dancer
Ikorodu Boys
Dancegod Lloyd
Incredible Zigi
Kamo Mphela
Telminho
Makhadzi
Ordinateur
Issac Kalonji
Best DJ
Tyler ICU
Uncle Waffles
DJ Tunez
DJ Nelasta
DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay
DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi
DJ Moh Green
DJ Maphorisa
Kabza De Small
Best Hip-Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
Nasty C and Didi B
Odumodublvck and Suspect 95
Sarkodie
Young Lunya
Maglera Doe Boy
Pan-African Awards
Best Global African Artist
Tyla
Tyler ICU
Fally Ipupa
Burna Boy
Asake
Rema
Ayra Starr
Diamond Platnumz
Best Male Artist
Dlala Thukzin
Fally Ipupa
Diamond Platnumz
Asake
Burna Boy
Rema
Wizkid
Stonebwoy
Best Female Artist
Tyla
Makhadzi
Chelsea Dinorath
Josey
Ayra Starr
Tems
Yemi Alade
Best Newcomer (sponsored by Johnnie Walker)
Nkosazana Daughter
Himra
Sabrina
Mia Guissé
Shallipopi
Qing Madi
Abigail Chams
Best Producer
Kelvin Momo: “Sewe”
P.Priime: “MMS”
DJ Maphorisa: “Mnike”
Tam Sir: “Coup du Marteau”
Sarz: “Happiness”
Jae 5: “Perfect Combi”
KDDO: “For Certain (Party Next Door)”
London: “Ozeba”
Kabza De Small: “Imithandazo”
Best Gospel Artist
Spirit of Praise 10
KS Bloom
Mercy Chinwo
Ada Ehi
Bella Kombo
Israël Mbonyi
Regional Awards
Best Artist Eastern Africa
Diamond Platnumz
Bien
Joshua Baraka
Harmonize
Rophnan
Marioo
Zuchu
Nandy
Best Artist: Western Africa Anglophone
Seyi Vibez
Adekunle Gold
Ayra Starr
Tems
Chike
Simi
KiDi
Best Artist: Southern Africa
Titom & Yuppe
De Mthuda
Inkabi Zezwe
Dlala Thukzin
Tyla
Uncle Waffles
Tyler ICU
Best Artist Francophone Africa
Didi B
Josey
Tidiane Mario
Gaz Mawete
Wally B. Seck
PhillBill
Best Artist Lusophone Africa
Calema
Landrick
Chelsea Dinorath
Twenty Fingers
Mr. Bow
Soraia Ramos
Best Artist: Tanzania
Mbosso
Diamond Platnumz
Zuchu
Marioo
Nandy
Alikiba
Jux
Harmonize
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artist: Europe
Central Cee
Kalash Darkoo
Joe Dwet File
Jungeli
Franglish
Aya Nakamura
Best Artist: Brazil
Racionais MC’s
MC IG
Péricles
Tasha & Tracie
Ludmilla
Duquesa
Best Artist: Caribbean
Venssy
Mathieu White
Meryl
Nesly
Shenseea
Kenny Haiti
Best Artist: Indian Ocean
Barth
Goulam
PLL
Kalipsxau
Léa Churros
Jamily Jeanne