Nigerian artists made a strong impact at the 2025 Trace Awards, with Rema, Mercy Chinwo, D’banj, and Ayra Starr securing top honours at the prestigious event held on Wednesday, February 26, at Mora Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Rema emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home ‘Album of the Year’ for Heis and the ‘Best Male Artist’ award. Ayra Starr continued her rise to global stardom, winning ‘Best West African Artist.’
Gospel sensation Mercy Chinwo was recognised as the ‘Best Gospel Artist’ for her inspirational contributions to the genre, while veteran artist D’banj received the esteemed ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in honour of his enduring influence in the music industry.
Other Nigerian winners included P.Priime, who was named ‘Best Producer’ for MMS, and Meji Alabi, who won ‘Best Music Video’ for directing Rema’s DND.
The night also saw South African sensation Titom & Yuppe clinching ‘Song of the Year’ for Tshwala Bam, while Ivory Coast’s Didi B was awarded ‘Best Hip Hop Artist.’
The Trace Awards celebrate outstanding African and diaspora talent across various genres, recognising their impact on the global music scene.
See the complete list of nominees and winners below:
Global Awards
Song of the Year
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Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa) WINNER
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Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
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Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
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Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
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Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
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Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
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Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
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Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
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Diamond Platnumz – ‘Komasawa’ (Tanzania)
Album of the Year
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Rema – Heis (Nigeria) WINNER
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Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
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Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
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Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
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Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
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King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
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Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
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Toofan – Stamina (Togo)
Best Collaboration
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Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast) WINNER
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Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
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Neyna & MC Acondize – ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ (Cape Verde)
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Kocee ft. Patoranking – ‘Credit Alert’ (Cameroon/Nigeria)
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Asake & Wizkid – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
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Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
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Odumodublvck & Black Sherif – ‘Woto Woto Seasoning’ (Ghana)
Best Music Video
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Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria) WINNER
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TG Omori – Kizz Daniel & Davido ‘Twe Twe’ (Nigeria)
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Director Folex – Zuchu feat Innoss’ B ‘Nani’ (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC)
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Nabil Elderkin – Tyla ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
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Kmane – Ayra Starr ‘Commas’ (Nigeria)
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Seoute Emmanuel – Toofan ‘C Pas Normal’ (Togo)
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Ach’B – Innoss’ B ‘Sete’ (DRC)
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Edgar Esteves – Asake & Wizkid ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
Best Dancer
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Makhadzi (South Africa) WINNER
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Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
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Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
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Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
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Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
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Telminho (Angola)
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Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)
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Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Best DJ
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DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria) WINNER
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Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
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Uncle Waffles – ‘Wadibusa’ (South Africa)
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DJ Tunez – ‘Apala Disco Remix’ (Nigeria)
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DJ Nelasta – ‘Eros’ (Angola)
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DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay – ‘One Call’ (Nigeria)
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DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi – ‘Honest’ (Nigeria)
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DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
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Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
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Didi B (Ivory Coast) WINNER
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Nasty C (South Africa)
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Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
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Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
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Sarkodie (Ghana)
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Young Lunya (Tanzania)
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Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Best Global African Artist
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Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) WINNER
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Tyla (South Africa)
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Tyler ICU (South Africa)
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Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Burna Boy (Nigeria)
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Asake (Nigeria/USA)
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Rema (Nigeria)
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Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Best Male Artist
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Rema (Nigeria) WINNER
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Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
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Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
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Asake (Nigeria)
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Burna Boy (Nigeria)
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Wizkid (Nigeria)
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Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Best Female Artist
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Tyla (South Africa) WINNER
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Makhadzi (South Africa)
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Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
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Josey (Ivory Coast)
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Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
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Tems (Nigeria)
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Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Live Performance
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Fally Ipupa (DRC) WINNER
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Ayra Starr – 21: The World Tour (Nigeria)
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Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
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Tyla (South Africa)
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Yemi Alade – African Rebel Tour (Nigeria)
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Didi B – Mojo Trone Tour (Ivory Coast)
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Diamond Platnumz – Wasafi Festival (Tanzania)
Best Producer
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P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria) WINNER
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Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)
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DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
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Tam Sir – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
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Sarz – ‘Happiness’ (Nigeria)
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Jae 5 – ‘Perfect Combi’ (Ghana)
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KDDO – ‘For Certain’ (Party Next Door) (Nigeria)
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London – ‘Ozeba’ (Nigeria)
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Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Gospel Artist
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Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria) WINNER
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Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
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KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
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Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
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Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
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Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Regional Awards
Best Artist Eastern Africa
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Bien (Kenya) WINNER
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Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
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Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
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Harmonize (Tanzania)
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Rophnan (Ethiopia)
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Marioo (Tanzania)
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Zuchu (Tanzania)
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Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
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Ayra Starr (Nigeria) WINNER
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Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
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Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
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Tems (Nigeria)
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Chike (Nigeria)
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Simi (Nigeria)
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KiDi (Ghana)
Best Artist (Southern Africa)
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Tyler ICU (South Africa) WINNER
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Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
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De Mthuda (South Africa)
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Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
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Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
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Tyla (South Africa)
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Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Best Artist Francophone Africa
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Josey (Ivory Coast) WINNER
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Didi B (Ivory Coast)
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Tidiane Mario (Congo)
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Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
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PhillBill (Cameroon)
Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)
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Chelsea Dinorath (Angola) WINNER
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Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
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Landrick (Angola)
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Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
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Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
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Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artist (Tanzania)
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Nandy (Tanzania) WINNER
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Mbosso (Zanzibar)
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Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
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Zuchu (Zanzibar)
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Marioo (Tanzania)
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Alikiba (Tanzania)
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Jux (Tanzania)
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Harmonize (Tanzania)
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artist (Europe)
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Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) WINNER
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Central Cee (United Kingdom)
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Kalash (France/Martinique)
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Darkoo (United Kingdom)
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Jungeli (France)
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Franglish (France)
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Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)
Best Artist (Brazil)
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Duquesa (Brazil) WINNER
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Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
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MC IG (Brazil)
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Péricles (Brazil)
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Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
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Ludmilla (Brazil)
Best Artist (Caribbean)
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Lea Churro (Reunion Island) WINNER
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Venssy (French Guiana)
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Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
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Meryl (Martinique)
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Nesly (French Guiana)
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Shenseea (Jamaica)
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Kenny Haiti (Haiti)
Best Artist (Indian Ocean)
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Barth (Reunion) WINNER
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Goulam (Comoros)
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PLL (Reunion)
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Kalipsxau (Reunion)
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Léa Churros (Reunion)
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Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)
Lifetime Achievement Award
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D’Banj
and then