Celebrating Afro-Urban Culture: The Trace Awards and Summit Set for Zanzibar

Afro-urban music and culture platform Trace has announced that the next edition of the Trace Awards and Summit will take place at the luxurious Mora 5 star Resort in Zanzibar from February 24 to 26, 2025.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in Rwanda last October, this event aims to celebrate Africa’s top artistes while spotlighting the rich cultural narratives that shape their artistry.

The Trace Awards will feature 28 categories highlighting the most popular African music genres and artistes, with live broadcasts reaching over 200 countries in English, French, and Portuguese.

Viewers can tune in across 25 Trace channels and over 50 terrestrial, satellite, and streaming partners, connecting with an estimated audience of at least 500 million fans.

The nominees will be announced on December 4, 2024, with public voting for winners commencing on December 18.

Olivier Laouchez, Trace’s co-founder and executive chairman, expresses his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to celebrate Africa’s vibrant creative scene by honouring music legends and emerging talents. The awards and summit aim to equip artistes with the essential tools needed to thrive in today’s global landscape.”

The accompanying Trace Summit will serve as a dynamic platform for creative discussions, empowerment, and networking.

It will feature panels, keynotes, and masterclasses focused on various aspects of the African creative industries, including technology and branding.

The summit will bring together artistes, managers, DJs, producers, promoters, investors, lawyers, and industry stakeholders from Africa and its diaspora to connect and share knowledge.

Zanzibar’s Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, expressed pride in hosting the prestigious event.

“Zanzibar is honoured to welcome the Trace Awards and Summit, showcasing Africa’s vibrant music and culture on a global stage. This event underscores our commitment to sustainable tourism and positions Zanzibar as a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.”.

Adds that it will highlight our Tanzania’s archaeology island’s beauty and diversity while emphasising the country’s efforts to preserve its unique environment and culture.

“We invite the world to experience Zanzibar’s exceptional charm, where nature, culture, and innovation converge,” adds the minister.

On her part, Seven Mosha, Marketing and Artist Development Manager, Eastern Africa at Sony Music Entertainment, shares, "Tanzania, this is an exciting moment! The TRACE AWARDS are coming to Tanzania, giving us the opportunity to elevate Bongo Flava music.”.

She further explains, “The success of Bongo Flava goes beyond the upcoming Trace Awards ceremony; it’s even greater knowing that the Bongo Flava category has been added to the awards. Now, artistes from Tanzania will have the chance to compete for these international accolades."

In recent years, Afro-centric music has surged in popularity, dominating global charts across genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, dancehall, and more.

The Trace Awards recognise the talents that have propelled this remarkable success, celebrating artistes such as Burna Boy, Fally Ipupa, Davido, Tyla, Rema, and many others.

The Trace Awards promise to be a spectacular event, featuring performances from Africa’s top artistes in front of an audience of 7,000, including musicians, influencers, trendsetters, and policymakers from around the globe.

As the countdown to this exciting celebration begins, the anticipation grows for what will surely be an unforgettable showcase of African culture and music.