Kenyan singer-songwriter Bien-Aimé Baraza has won a Trace award for Best Artist in Eastern Africa.
The ceremony took place at the Mora Zanzibar Resort to honour the outstanding achievements in African and Afro-inspired music across 24 categories.
As the only Kenyan artist nominated in the country, Bien, he beat out Tanzanians Diamond, Harmonize, Marioo, Zuchu, Nandy, Ethiopian Rophnan and Ugandan Joshua Baraka to take home the prize.
In addition to winning, Bien also gave a stellar performance of the hit song “Nairobi” alongside Marioo. The song premiered at the end of January and remains the number-one video on YouTube Kenya.
Bien has always emphasised the importance of creating music that elevates the region and not just himself.
“If Bien is amazing, people will look for Kenyan music and find other artistes,” he said in a previous interview.
The lead singer of Sauti Sol, who mostly sings in Swahili also highlighted the significance of using the language to reach a broader audience.
“Swahili is spoken by 150 million people and those are customers and ambassadors of our culture. So, we have to make music for that community wherever they are in the world and use them to propel us out onto the global sphere.”
See the full list of winners below.
Song of the Year
Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
Album of the Year
Rema – Heis (Nigeria) Winner
Best Collaboration
Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
Best Music Video
Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria)
Best Dancer
Makhadzi (South Africa) Winner
Best DJ
DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria)
Best Hip Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Pan-African Awards
Best Global African Artist
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best Male Artist
Rema (Nigeria)
Best Female Artist
Tyla (South Africa)
Best Live Performance
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Best Producer
P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria) Winner
Best Gospel Artist
Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
Regional Awards
Best Artist Eastern Africa
Bien (Kenya) Winner
Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Best Artist (Southern Africa)
Tyler ICU (South Africa)
Best Artist Francophone Africa
Josey (Ivory Coast) Winner
Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)
Chelsea Dinorath (Angola) Winner
Best Artist (Tanzania)
Nandy (Tanzania)
International and Diaspora Awards nominees
Best Artist (Europe)
Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) Winner
Best Artist (Brazil)
Duquesa (Brazil) Winner
Best Artist (Caribbean)
Kenny Haiti (Haiti)
Best Artist (Indian Ocean)
Barth (Reunion)
Lifetime Achievement Award
D’Banj
