Afrobeats Legend, D’banj, will release a new album in March 2024 to mark his 20th anniversary in the creative industry, the musician announced on Saturday at the Trace Awards 2023 held in Kagali, Rwanda.
The Trace Awards is a new award franchise created by Trace, a global TV and multimedia platform to recognize African and Afro-influenced musicians.
D’banj, born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, hosted the show with Angolan supermodel Maria Borges. Interacting with his co-host, the Oliver Twist hitmaker said he was honored to be a part of the event and joked that he had already been adjudged ‘Best Entertainer.’
‘’I am not nominated for best singer this year, but I have been nominated for best entertainer, and ironically, I was the only nominee, so they gave me the award already backstage.
‘’But my new album is coming out in March 2024, which also happens to be my 20 years on stage as an entertainer. I know I look 21 but that is because I started very early,’’ he said teasingly.
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The entrepreneur, television personality, rapper, songwriter, and singer released the single Chop Life which featured Timaya in February 2023 before dropping Gbe Gbe in July.
D’banj has won many music awards, including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007. The Fall In Love singer went on to win Artiste of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009 and Best International Act-Africa at the 2011 BET Awards, as well as Best-selling African Artiste at the 2014 World Music Awards.
Trace Award 2023 brought together music lovers around the world while others watched on various platforms as it happened. Genres including Afrobeat, Amapiano, Dancehall, hip hop, Kizomba, and Afro-fusion all feature prominently at the event.
About 50 artistes from Africa and the Diaspora performed at the show held at BK Arena, Kigali-Rwanda. The awarding categories included: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Best Female Artiste, Best Music Video, Best Newcomer, Best Collaboration, Best DJ, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste, and Best Dancer, among others.
Since 2003, Trace has been the first multimedia and digital platform in the world sorely devoted to Afro-Urban music and cultures as well as to the success of young artistes. Trace reaches more than 350 million fans in 180 countries.