Trace Awards & Festival

Trace Awards & Festival (also referred to as Trace Awards) is a music awards show established by Trace Group to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the French pay-TV music video television channel Trace TV. With the aim of honoring outstanding achievements in African and Afro-inspired music and culture around the world, the Trace Awards was broadcast live on Trace TV and Trace Africa, across 180 countries. The first edition was held in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday 21 October 2023 at the BK Arena, Kigali.

History
The event is composed of performances from African and Afro-origin artists from around the world plus presentations of awards in 26 different categories. The inaugural edition also aired on Kigali Channel 2 (KC2 TV) in Rwanda, for local viewing, while the show was also livestreamed on the Trace YouTube channel.

On 20 October 2023, Trace held a press conference at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village, where the Head of Tourism and Conservation Department of Rwanda, Ariella Kageruka, highlighted the benefits of the award, and its impact on the nation. The event was hosted by the Nigerian singer D'banj and Angolan model Maria Borges.

Award categories (26)
The following are the present categories:


 * Best Male
 * Best Female
 * Song of the Year
 * Best Music Video
 * Best Newcomer
 * Best Collaboration
 * Best DJ
 * Best Producer
 * Best Gospel Artist
 * Best Live
 * Best Dancer
 * Best Artist Africa - Anglophone
 * Best Artist Africa - Francophone
 * Best Artist Africa - Lusophone
 * Best Artist - Rwanda
 * Best Artist - East Africa
 * Best Artist - France & Belgium
 * Best Artist - UK
 * Best Artist - The Caribbean
 * Best Artist - Indian Ocean
 * Best Artist - Brazil
 * Best Artist - North Africa
 * Album of the Year
 * Lifetime Achievement
 * Changemaker
 * Global African Act