Winners of Trace Music awards 2023 celebrate success in Kigali with President Kagame
The Trace Music Awards 2023 concluded in a blaze of glory in Kigali, Rwanda, with the winners meeting President Paul Kagame.
The Rwandan head of state, renowned for his commitment to art and talent, pledged to offer even more support to artists across the African continent.
President Kagame extended his heartfelt congratulations to the award winners and expressed his gratitude for their participation in the event.
He acknowledged the global appeal of these artists and the fact that they could have chosen any part of the world for their work but had chosen to come to Rwanda for the Trace Music Awards.
“I wanted to congratulate all of you for this and Trace that has also put this together and has made it what it is today, thriving and giving it a sense of purpose for which this has been created,” President Kagame said.
He assured the artists that they are always welcome in Rwanda, emphasizing that the country is open to embracing all the positive contributions from across the African continent.
“I want to assure you that you have a home here. I know all people who are here have places they call home, and that’s a really good thing. But you can consider this a home away from home,” President Kagame said.
Sharing his experience, Kagame shared:
“I will tell you my personal experience. I lived 30 years of my life without a home. So that taught me the value of having a place you call home, and I know it is as meaningful and as important to everyone and anyone elsewhere. That’s why I’m saying whoever wants to make this a home away from home or a home, you are welcome.”
The Trace Music Awards 2023 brought together artists and music enthusiasts from across the continent, with notable Kenyan music stars shining at the event.
Singer Nadia Mukami, nominated in two categories, kicked off the show with her hit song “Kai Wangu” (featuring Arrow Bwoy), and gospel star Janet Otieno captivated the crowd with a powerful stage performance.
BetPawa Africa’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ntoudi Mouyelo, also made an appearance at the awards ceremony.
Mouyelo spoke about empowering artists to sell their content directly to businesses, highlighting the importance of tuning into their audience and collaborating with companies to bring their music to the masses.
“When we enter new markets, it’s essential for us to go beyond betting and become a part of the economy. One of the best parts is investing in the creative economy,” he said.
“When we sponsor an event, it’s not about us; it’s about the artists performing and the fans attending. We go beyond just singers: in DRC, we are partnering with a local photographer to document dandies because we believe they are artists who deserve to have their art documented and supported. We brought artists from Cameroon who created a song on responsible betting to the Trace Awards in Kigali. We believe in investing in artists.”