Global music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker Trace is to mark its 20th anniversary with the launch of the Trace Awards & Festival, a stunning new live Awards ceremony and festival celebrating the creativity, cool and confidence of African and Afro-inspired music and culture around the world.

Focusing a global spotlight on musicians, creators, entrepreneurs and achievers from across Africa and the African diaspora, the Trace Awards & Festival will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from Friday 20 to Saturday 21 October 2023, in partnership with Visit Rwanda and QA Venue Solutions Rwanda, the venue management company of BK Arena.

The event will comprise a 3-hour live televised spectacular music ceremony, preceded by a 2-day cultural festival designed to entertain and empower music creators and fans.

Featuring performances from the biggest African and Afro-descent artists in the world, The Trace Awards will be staged at East Africa’s biggest indoor arena, BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, in front of 7,500 music superfans, musicians, opinion formers, style-setters and influencers from Africa and around the globe. The Awards will recognize a broad range of music genres from Afrobeat to Dancehall, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba, while saluting artists in a number of cultural/lifestyle categories.

The campaign will also feature multiple build-up events, an Awards tour, parties and screenings in Africa, Europe, the USA, the UK, Brazil, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.

Targeted at lovers of African and Afro-inspired music and culture around the world, the Trace Awards will broadcast live on Trace channels in more than 180 countries around the world. The Awards will also feature on Trace terrestrial TV partners and satellite channels around the world.

For more information about the Awards, please visit the website below