Trace Awards announce first batch of performers

Presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell, the event is the brainchild of Afro-urban multimedia and digital company Trace, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. More than 150 artists have been nominated for the Trace Awards, which celebrate African and Afro-inspired music in 25 categories. The event is expected to host some 7 000 music fans.

Among the confirmed performers are Nigeria’s Davido, Kizz Daniel and Asake, Ghana’s Black Sherif and Senegal’s Viviane Chidid. Others are Didi B (Ivory Coast), Josey (Ivory Coast), Benjamin Dube (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda) and Dystinct (Morocco).

The rest are Janet Otieno (Kenya), Kalash (Martinique), Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde), Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde), Locko (Cameroon), Mikl (Reunion), Perola (Angola), Plutonio (Mozambique), Princess Lover (Martinique), Ronisia (France), Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti), Tayc (France), Terell Elymoor (Mayotte) and Bamby (French Guiana).

UK-based Afrobeat band The Compozers have been confirmed as the house band for the Trace Awards. More performers will be announced soon.

Nigerian musicians dominate this year’s awards with more than 40 nominations in total, including multiple nods for Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML and Rema.

The awards will celebrate genres such as Afrobeats, dancehall, hip hop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé-décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, rai, kompa, R&B and rumba.

“The Trace Awards’ nominations salute achievement and excellence from more than 150 performers, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, established artists and rising stars, and their management and labels,” Trace chairman and co-founder Olivier Laouchez said. “We congratulate all the nominees, most of whom will attend and perform in Kigali on 21 October. It will be an unmissable experience for lovers of African and Afro-inspired music.” 

The full list of nominees is available here.

Fans can power their favourite artists to victory by voting for them here.