Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid Lead Maiden Trace Awards Nominations
Renowned Afrobeats luminaries, namely Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tiwa Savage, have secured nominations for the prestigious 2023 Trace Awards, Excel Magazine International has gathered.
In a grand unveiling on Monday, Trace, the esteemed music media enterprise, disclosed the list of nominees for the inaugural Trace Awards event, slated to unfold at the resplendent BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on the 21st of October 2023.
This gala, a live extravaganza and a globally-televised spectacle, will exalt the ingenuity, artistry, and cultural influence emanating from the realms of African and Afro-inspired music. Anticipated to captivate an audience of approximately 500 million viewers across 190 countries.
The coveted awards recognize a myriad of creative talents spanning artists, music producers, DJs, wordsmiths, composers, visionaries, and record labels.
Unquestionably, the West African musical juggernauts, especially Nigeria’s luminaries, have left an indelible mark on the Afrobeats landscape, amassing an astounding tally of over 40 nominations. Notable contenders include Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, WizKid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML, and Rema, many of whom command multiple nominations.
The forerunners of this illustrious pack, Davido and Burna Boy, emerge as frontrunners with a stunning quartet of nominations each, spanning an array of prestigious categories such as ‘Best Male,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Best Live Performance,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Artist,’ and ‘Album of the Year.’
Not to be outdone, artists of the caliber of Asake, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Yemi Alade, and Fireboy DML, have each clinched three coveted nominations, while Rema and Kizz Daniel have triumphantly secured two nods.
The illustrious roster further extends to include celebrated Nigerian talents like Odumodublvck, Oxlade, The Compozers, Moses Bliss, DJ Spinall, Olamide, BNXN, Show Dem Camp, and Nissi.
In his statement regarding these awards, Olivier Laouchez, the Chairman and Co-founder of Trace, affirmed, “The Trace Awards’ nominations celebrate the accomplishments and brilliance of over 150 performers, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, established artists, and rising stars, along with their dedicated management and labels.
An intense competition awaits, with 22 distinctive award categories featuring platinum-selling talents hailing from more than 30 countries across Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe. The coveted trophy, a true work of art, was meticulously crafted by the acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost.
Beyond the borders of the continent, the eclectic sounds of the African diaspora find representation, featuring renowned nominees from France, Brazil, the UK, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean, including luminaries such as Stormzy (UK), Aya Nakamura (France), Leo Santana (Brazil), and Shenseea (Jamaica), among an array of other exceptional talents.
