Afro-urban music and culture platform Trace, on October 30, announced that the next edition of the Trace Awards and Summit, celebrating Africa’s cultural powerhouse, will take place at the Mora 5* Resort in Zanzibar from February 24-26, 2025. Following a successful inaugural edition held in Rwanda in October 2023, captivating over 500 million viewers globally, organisers say that the 2025 awards edition will not only celebrate Africa’s top artists but also spotlight the rich cultural stories that shape their artistry. “We are excited to celebrate Africa's creative heartbeat by spotlighting music legends and rising stars. This summit empowers artists with essential tools for success in today's global landscape,” said Olivier Laouchez, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Trace. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: How the inaugural Trace Awards and Festival went down in Kigali The prestigious awards will feature 28 categories of the most popular African music genres like Afrobeat, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, and Gospel and artists, with live broadcasts in over 200 countries in English, French, and Portuguese. The three-day awarding event will include a summit from February 24-25, marking a unique platform for artists, managers, producers, investors, and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of Africa’s creative industries. The awards ceremony will take place on February 26. ALSO READ: Rwanda leverages over $56m in Trace Awards media value This year’s awards will also recognize Afro-centric music that has dominated global charts, honouring top artists such as Burna Boy, Fally Ipupa, Davido, Tyla, Rema, Wizkid, Diamond Platnumz, Nomcebo, Didi B, Yemi Alade, Ayra Starr and so many more. The nominations will be revealed on December 4, with public voting set to start on December 18, enabling fans worldwide to support their favourite artists. 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 Summit, preceding the awards ceremony, will also create a hub for discussions on technology, branding, and cultural innovation. By hosting panels, keynotes, and masterclasses, the summit will address both the opportunities and challenges facing Africa’s creative sectors. For Zanzibar’s local economy, this high-profile event represents a key milestone in its mission to establish the island as a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination, according to Trace’s statement. Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, Zanzibar's Minister of Tourism, expressed pride in hosting the summit, highlighting it as a “celebration of Africa’s vibrant music and culture on the global stage”. “Zanzibar is proud to host the prestigious Trace Awards and Summit. This event strengthens our commitment to sustainable tourism and promotes Zanzibar as a premier MICE destination,” he added.
