The 2025 Trace Awards, held at the picturesque Mora Resort in Zanzibar on Wednesday, February 26th, celebrated African and global music excellence, with Nigerian artists making a dominant mark.  

Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, securing four major awards. His sophomore album Heis, released in July 2024, was named Album of the Year, reinforcing his creative evolution. He also won Best Male Artist, an award that recognized his talent and outstanding impact.

Rema’s music video for DND, directed by Meji Alabi, earned Best Music Video, marking a win for both the artist and the visionary filmmaker. This latest feat adds to Rema’s growing collection of accolades while recognizing his undeniable influence in the music scene.

Beyond Rema, other Nigerian artists also left their mark. Ayra Starr was crowned Best West African Artist, further cementing her status as one of Afrobeats’ most vibrant voices, Mercy Chinwo won Best Gospel Artist, honoring her uplifting contributions to gospel music, D’banj received the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his influence and legacy in African music, and P.Priime clinched Best Producer for his work on MMS, recognizing his role in shaping contemporary sounds.

The 2025 Trace Awards showcased the rich diversity of African music, with artists from across the continent receiving well-deserved recognition.  From Rema’s record-breaking success to the recognition of industry pioneers like D’banj, the event reaffirmed the dominance of Nigerian music on an inclusive African stage.

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Rema, whose previous year was one of home and global domination leads with six nominations including ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for his explosive hit “Benin Boys” featuring gritty rapper Shallipopi. His critically acclaimed project also earned him a coveted ‘Album of the Year’ nomination, while the music video for his chart-topping single “DND” directed by Meiji Alabi was recognized for ‘Best Music Video.’

Not to be outdone, Ayra Starr continues her trailblazing streak with five nominations. The Sabi Girl, still holding the Mavin flag high earns a spot in the fiercely contested ‘Best Female Artist’ and ‘Best Global African Artist’ categories. Her electrifying ‘21: THE WORLD TOUR’ earns a nomination for ‘Best Live Performance,’ while her visually stunning video for “Commas” secures her a nod for ‘Best Music Video.’ The year 2024 was arguably Ayra starr’s most hardworking year from unveiling her sophomore album to touring with Coldplay, purposefully solidifying her influence, impact on the global music stage and earning her a recognition as ‘Best Artist’.

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The Trace Awards, a prestigious celebration of Afrobeats and African music, will be a moment of triumph for both artists, regardless of who takes home the trophies. As the countdown to the event begins, Ravers and Sabi Girls eagerly anticipate a night of victories for these young icons.

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