Zanzibar to host next Trace Awards and Summit

Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in Rwanda in October last year, the event will not only celebrate Africa’s top artists but also spotlight the rich cultural stories that shape their artistry.

The awards will showcase 28 categories of the most popular African music genres and artists, with live broadcasts in over 200 countries in English, French, and Portuguese.

The event will air across 25 Trace African and international channels, as well as more than 50 terrestrial, satellite, and streaming partners, reaching an estimated audience of at least 500 million fans. The list of nominees will be revealed on 4 December 2024 and the public vote for the winners will start on 18 December.

“We are excited to celebrate Africa’s creative heartbeat by spotlighting music legends and rising stars,” Trace co-founder and executive chairman Olivier Laouchez said. “The awards and summit [seek] to empower artists with essential tools for success in today’s global landscape. The event will transform Zanzibar into a vibrant epicentre of music, culture, and innovation.”

The Trace Summit, meanwhile, will be a hub for creative discussions, empowerment, and networking, featuring panels, keynotes, and masterclasses on African creative industries, technology, branding, and more. The event will offer a unique platform for artists, managers, DJs, producers, promoters, investors, lawyers, governments, brands, and industry stakeholders from Africa and its diaspora to connect and exchange knowledge.

“Zanzibar is proud to host the prestigious Trace Awards and Summit, a celebration of Africa’s vibrant music and culture on the global stage,” Zanzibar’s Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, said. “This event strengthens our commitment to sustainable tourism and promotes Zanzibar as a premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.It will showcase our island's beauty and diversity, while highlighting our efforts to preserve its unique environment and culture. We invite the world to experience Zanzibar’s exceptional charm, where nature, culture, and innovation come together.”

Over the past three years, Afro-centric music has steadily dominated global charts, spanning genres like Afrobeats, amapiano, dancehall, Afropop, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé décalé, bongo flava, gospel, hip hop, kompa, R&B, and rumba.

The Trace Awards recognise and honour the talents that have driven this remarkable global success such as Burna Boy, Fally Ipupa, Davido, Tyla, Rema, Wizkid, Diamond Platnumz, Nomcebo Zikode, Didi B, Yemi Alade, and Ayra Starr, among others.