The Trace Awards returns with its 2025 edition. It’s the celebration of Africa’s musical diversity, where voices from Dakar to Johannesburg, beats from Lagos to Nairobi, and vibes from Kinshasa to Zanzibar come together in harmony.

This year’s list of nominees is absolutely electric. Major African genres like amapiano, Afrobeat, mbalax, and zouk have brilliant representations from the respective countries. Artists from more than 30 countries are in the running, proving that African music is as vast and rich as the continent itself.

Take the West African giants—they’re ruling the charts worldwide. Nigeria leads the charge with Asake, Rema, and the unstoppable Burna Boy battling it out in top categories like Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Their bangers have transcended borders, becoming anthems for global dance floors.

Meanwhile, East Africa brings its signature swag with Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Zuchu turning the competition into an all-out fiesta. Add Southern Africa’s amapiano powerhouses Tyla and Tyler ICU to the mix, and it’s clear: the Trace Awards are showcasing every corner of the African map.

Let’s talk collaborations—this category is a melting pot of brilliance. Cape Verde meets the global dance scene with Neyna & MC Acondize’s party-starter Nu Ka Sta Para, while Nigeria’s Asake joins forces with Wizkid for MMS—a track as smooth as butter. This synergy is exactly what makes Afro music the cultural glue of today’s generation.

Even visually, African music is not slowing down. Take Meji Alabi’s iconic work for Rema’s DND or TG Omori’s signature stamp on Kizz Daniel’s Twe Twe. These are cinematic experiences, each one telling a story of its own.

But it gets even more interesting: The Trace Awards isn't just a stage for superstars. It’s a spotlight for rising talents and overlooked regions. Artists from French-speaking Africa, like Ivory Coast’s Didi B, are showing the world that Francophone vibes are here to stay. Cape Verde’s Neyna is carving out space for island nations, proving African music’s heartbeat spans oceans.

It’s obviously a wide sky, we await the day that other rising stars such as Skelvin, Expensive Peter, Mascara Vibes and Addi Self will get a well deserved chance on such stages as this.

This year, all roads lead to Zanzibar. The Trace Awards are rewriting how the world celebrates Africa. It’s about recognizing our roots, reveling in our evolution, and honoring the unity that music brings.

So, gear up and get ready. Because whether it’s amapiano, soukous, or rap, one thing is certain: African music isn’t just rising—it’s ruling.