Category Archives: Music Festivals

Soulaced Sessions with Louie Vega: Experience House Music Magic

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Get ready for an unforgettable night of deep grooves and pure house music euphoria as Soulaced Sessions returns with a stellar lineup, headlined by none other than the legendary Grammy Award-winning Louie Vega this May.

Taking place at The Forum in Bryanston on Saturday, 17 May, this seasonal celebration of sound and entertainment promises an immersive evening where music meets the soul — a night set to create memories. No stranger to SA, Louie Vega returns for this season’s edition of Soulaced Sessions. Known as one half of the legendary Masters at Work duo, he is a global house music pioneer whose influence spans decades, continents, and genres. With his distinctive blend of Latin, soul, jazz, and Afro-house,this Grammy Award winning DJ has won the hearts of millions around the world — including South Africa, where house music culture runs deep.

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340ml Reunion Tour: Special Guests & Exciting DJs Announced

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The much-awaited 340ml Reunion Tour is fast approaching, and excitement continues to build as the legendary band unveils the incredible lineup of special guests joining them for this unforgettable journey across South Africa.

Having already confirmed the incredibly talented, award winning Thandiswa Mazwai as a featured special guest for the tour, local promoters Ratanang Agency announced that long-time friend and collaborator Tumi Molekane aka Stogie T who will also be joining the reunion tour. Known for his genre-defying sound and iconic contributions to the South African music scene, Stogie’s performance is sure to be a highlight of the tour.

In addition to the live music, a long list of high profiled DJs will be taking the tour to the next level at each stop.

These include:

  • Kenzhero
  • Yolophonik
  • Akio
  • LOVESLAVEPHOLA
  • MAMTHUG
  • DWSON
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Mahindra Fusion Fest: A Unique Celebration of Music and Fashion

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Mahindra South Africa is set to make history with the inaugural Fusion Fest, an extraordinary festival that will bring together the best of music, fashion and motoring, taking place on Saturday, 22nd February 2025 at the iconic SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria. 

Marking a significant milestone in Mahindra’s journey, the brand is celebrating their two decades of forging strong connections with its South African customers as they enter the third decade of partnerships in the country. The Mahindra Fusion Fest is kicking off these festivities.

At the heart of the festival are four electrifying fusion performances that will push creative boundaries and blend musical genres like never before. These one-of-a-kind collaborations will showcase the power of fusion, where diverse musical backgrounds merge to create something entirely new. Line up includes iconic artists Cassper Nyovest, Zandile Mzazi, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Sjava, Matthew Mole, Tarryn Lamb Mi Casa, Young Stunna, K.O, Kamo Mphela, Sipho “Hot Stix” Mabuse and Aymos. The head girl of entertainment industry Nomuzi ‘ Moozlie’ Mabena will play host for the evening.

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Experience Soul II Soul and TKZee at Montecasino

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This year’s Intimate Evening Series, a collaboration between Liberty, Griza Enterprises and leading local promoter Showtime Management – designed to usher in each new year with a symphony of hope – features Soul II Soul in Johannesburg for a celebration of reggae, R&B and neo-soul at Montecasino’s Outdoor Events Area on 01 February, before taking the show to Kirstenbosch in Cape Town on 08 February.

The British hitmakers, creators of the classic singles “Keep On Movin’” and the huge hit “Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)” – Number one in both the US and the UK in 1989 – will be supported by South African legends TKZee.

The trio – Tokollo Tshabalala, Kabelo Mabalane and Zwai Bala, who met at school in the early Nineties – became the biggest-selling kwaito band in South African musical history when their 1997 and 1998 singles “Palafala” and “Shibobo” (respectively) both earned sales more than 100,000 copies, making TKZee a household name across the African continent.

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Discover the Trace Awards 2025 in Zanzibar

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The Trace Awards & Summit 2025, the most prestigious musical event on the African continent, is set to electrify Zanzibar. The Trace Awards ceremony, taking place on the 26th February 2025, will bring together the continent’s and diaspora’s greatest talents. Trace invites fans worldwide to actively participate by voting for their favourite artists.

Voting officially opens on the 2nd January 2025 ➡ www.traceawards.plus.

Music fans, it’s your time to act! Your vote accounts for 50% of the final decision and can make the difference in choosing the winners. The other half results from the votes of an expert jury.

A Celebration of African Musical Diversity

Africa is home to many musical styles that profoundly influence contemporary sounds worldwide.

The Trace Awards highlight the richness and excellence of Afro music through genres such as Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, Afro-pop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé-décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, raï, kompa, RnB, and rumba. Artists from over 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe are competing in 24 categories.

Why Vote?

The Trace Awards are more than just an event; they are a platform dedicated to recognising artists who shape the future of African and international music. By voting, fans have the opportunity to amplify the voices of their favorite artists both on the continent and internationally and support works that reflect their identity and cultural pride.

Voting closes on 15th February 2025. (Voting is free, accessible to all, and fully compliant with RGPD regulations)

TRACE AWARDS 2025 NOMINEES

GLOBAL AWARDS 

Song of the Year
Tyla – Jump (South Africa)
Tyler ICU – Mnike (South Africa)
Titom & Yuppe – Tshwala Bam (South Africa)
Tamsir x Team Paiya – Coup du Marteau (Ivory Coast)
Asake & Travis Scott – Active (Nigeria)
Tems – Love Me Jeje (Nigeria)
Burna Boy – Higher (Nigeria)
Rema & Shallipopi – Benin Boys (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz – Komasawa (Tanzania)Album of the Year 
Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
Rema – Heis (Nigeria)
Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
Toofan – Stamina (Togo)

Best Collaboration
Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy – Tshwala Bam (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
Neyna & MC Acondize – Nu Ka Sta Para (Cape Verde)
Kocee ft. Patoranking – Credit Alert (Cameroon/Nigeria)
Asake & Wizkid – MMS (Nigeria)
Rema & Shallipopi – Benin Boys (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck & Black Sherif – Woto Woto Seasoning (Ghana)
Tamsir & Team Paiya – Coup du Marteau (Ivory Coast)

Best Music Video
Meji Alabi for Rema “DND” (Nigeria)
TG Omori for Kizz Daniel & Davido “Twe Twe” (Nigeria)
Director Folex for Zuchu feat Innoss’ B “Nani” (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC)
Nabil Elderkin for Tyla “Jump” (South Africa)
Kmane for Ayra Starr “Commas” (Nigeria)
Seoute Emmanuel for Toofan “C Pas Normal” (Togo)
Ach’B for Innoss’ B “Sete” (DRC)
Edgar Esteves for Asake & Wizkid “MMS” (Nigeria).

Best Dancer
Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
Telminho (Angola)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)
Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo).Best DJ
Tyler ICU – Mnike (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles – Wadibusa (South Africa)
DJ Tunez – Apala Disco Remix (Nigeria)
DJ Nelasta – Eros (Angola)
DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay – One Call (Nigeria)
DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi – Honest (Nigeria)
DJ Moh Green – Kelele (Algeria)
DJ Maphorisa – Mnike (South Africa)
Kabza De Small – Imithandazo (South Africa)

Best Hip-Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
Nasty C (South Africa), Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria), Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Young Lunya (Tanzania)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)

PAN-AFRICAN AWARDS 

Best Global African Artist
Tyla (South Africa)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Asake (Nigeria/USA)
Rema (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)Best Male Artist
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Asake (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best Female Artist
Tyla (South Africa)
Makhadzi (South Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Newcomer (sponsored by Johnnie Walker)
Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
Himra (Ivory Coast)
Sabrina (Cameroon)
Mia Guissé (Senegal)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Qing Madi (Nigeria)
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

Best Live Performance
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Ayra Starr – 21: The World Tour (Nigeria)
Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
Yemi Alade – African Rebel Tour (Nigeria)
Didi B – Mojo Trone Tour (Ivory Coast)
Diamond Platnumz – Wasafi Festival (Tanzania)

Best Producer
Kelvin Momo – Sewe (South Africa)
P.Priime – MMS (Nigeria)
DJ Maphorisa – Mnike (South Africa)
Tam Sir – Coup du Marteau (Ivory Coast)
Sarz – Happiness (Nigeria)
Jae 5 – Perfect Combi (Ghana)
KDDO – For Certain (Party Next Door) (Nigeria)
London – Ozeba (Nigeria)
Kabza De Small – Imithandazo (South Africa)

Best Gospel Artist
Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)REGIONAL AWARDS

Best Artist Eastern Africa 
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Bien (Kenya)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Harmonize (Tanzania)
Rophnan (Ethiopia)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)

Best Artist – Western Africa Anglophone
Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Chike (Nigeria)
Simi (Nigeria)
KiDi (Ghana)

Best Artist – Southern Africa
Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
De Mthuda (South Africa)
Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)

Best Artist Francophone Africa
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Tidiane Mario (Congo)
Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
PhillBill (Cameroon)

Best Artist Lusophone Africa
Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Landrick (Angola)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artist – Tanzania
Mbosso (Zanzibar)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Zuchu (Zanzibar)
Marioo (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)
Alikiba (Tanzania)
Jux (Tanzania)
Harmonize (Tanzania)

INTERNATIONAL AND DIASPORA AWARDS 

Best Artist – Europe
Central Cee (United Kingdom)
Kalash (France/Martinique)
Darkoo (United Kingdom)
Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti)
Jungeli (France)
Franglish (France)
Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)

Best Artist – Brazil
Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
MC IG (Brazil)
Péricles (Brazil)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Duquesa (Brazil)

Best Artist – Caribbean
Venssy (French Guiana)
Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
Meryl (Martinique)
Nesly (French Guiana)
Shenseea (Jamaica)
Kenny Haiti (Haiti)

Best Artist – Indian Ocean
Barth (Reunion)
Goulam (Comoros)
PLL (Reunion)
Kalipsxau (Reunion)
Léa Churros (Reunion)
Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)

To join in the conversation about the Trace Awards & Summit, use the hashtags: #TraceAwardsZanzibar and #TraceSummitZanzibar.

Follow Trace on Facebook and Instagram @traceawards, YouTube @TraceMusicOfficiel.
 
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