Nigerian acts to be honoured at Trace Awards nominee reception

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, and the event, which will take place at the Vertigo Lagos lounge in Victoria Island on 16 September, forms part of a series of nine events across other African countries between now and the end of September.

The reception party will feature musicians from all genres within the Nigerian industry, as well as live performances from some of the nominated musicians.

Presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell, the 2023 Trace Awards and Festival 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.

More than 150 artists have been shortlisted for various trophies in 25 categories. The full list of nominees is available here, and fans can power their favorite artists to victory by voting for them here.

“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 has said ahead of the awards. “We congratulate all the nominees, most of whom will attend and perform in Kigali on October 21. It will be an unmissable experience for lovers of African and Afro-inspired music.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Davido, Kizz Daniel and Asake, Ghana's Black Sherif as well as Senegal's Viviane Chidid have been named among the performers for the main ceremony. Others include Didi B (Ivory Coast), Josey (Ivory Coast), Benjamin Dube (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda) and Dystinct (Morocco).