CNN International and MultiChoice are gearing up for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Awards. The winners of these prestigious annual Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Durban, South Africa in July 2009.

Nolo Letele, CEO MultiChoice South Africa, said: "A thriving, independent and authentic media continues to play a major role in building democracies on the African continent. We are therefore delighted to once again partner with CNN, in recognising and celebrating media excellence with the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2009 Awards."

Over the past fourteen years, the competition has grown in size and status to become Africa"s most prestigious media event. In 2008, it attracted a record-number of entries from 44 African countries and a "Highlights Programme" of the ceremony, held in Accra, Ghana, was broadcast in 41 African countries, on the Africa Channel in the US, OBE TV in the UK and RTP Africa.

Historical winners include:

1995
John Githongo, Kenya
Yasmin O Bedwei-Majdoub, Ghana
Olumuyiwa Moyela, Nigeria
Erich Ogoso Opolot, Uganda

1995 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Joana Mantey, Ghana

1997
Tom Dorkennoo, Ghana
Anthony Livuza, Malawi
Daniel Brande, Ghana
Zingisa Makina, South Africa
Ayida Komla Dany, Togo
Roger Makings, South Africa
Outsa Mokone, Botswana
Joseph Ode, Nigeria
Jessica Pitchford, South Africa

1997 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Ken Opala, Kenya

1998
Olukayode Thomas, Nigeria
Nicky De Blois, South Africa
Daniel Mensah Brande, Ghana
Linus Kaikai, Kenya
Angie Kapelianis, South Africa
Mutahi Mureithi, Kenya
Tamunoibim Sememitari, Nigeria
Ronel Van Zyl, South Africa

1998 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Newton Kanhema, Zimbabwe

1999
Kim Cloete, South Africa
Themba Hadebe, South Africa
Vinicius Hodges, Liberia
Sy Lerman, South Africa
Janet Mba-Afolabi, Nigeria
Marianne Merten, South Africa
Ima Niboro, Nigeria
Osita Nwajah, Nigeria
Linus Kaikai, Kenya

1999 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Declan Okpalaeke, Nigeria

2000
Adewale Adeoye, Nigeria
Shenid Bhayroo, South Africa
Brian Hungwe, Zimbabwe
Mia Malan, South Africa
Ingrid Martens, South Africa
Sophia Phirippides, South Africa
Sorius Samura, Sierra Leone
Jabulani Sikhakhane, South Africa
Olukayode Thomas, Nigeria
Charlene Smith, South Africa

2000 Joint CNN African Journalists of the Year:
Jacques Pauw and Adil Bradlow, South Africa
And
Wanja Njunguna-Githinji, Kenya

2001
Tony Carnie, South Africa
Faizel Cook, South Africa
Shyaka Kanuma, Rwanda
Njoki Karuoya, Kenya
Declan Okpalaeke, Nigeria
TJ Lemon, South Africa
Manfred Mensah, Ghana
Mpho Moagi, South Africa
Eric Orina, Kenya
Jonathan Shapiro, South Africa
Adolf Spangenberg, South Africa

2001 Joint CNN African Journalists of the Year:
Jacques Pauw, South Africa
And
Samantha Rogers, South Africa

2002
Sara Blecher, South Africa
Declan Okpalaeke, Nigeria
Patrice Douh-Lessou, Cote d’Ivoire
John Mwendwa Gitari, Kenya
Khadija Magardie, South Africa
Isaac Masingati, Malawi
Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Zimbabwe
Caroline Nakazibwe, Uganda
Angie Kapelianis, South Africa
Loretta Vanderpuye, Ghana

2002 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Susan Purén, South Africa

2003
Claudine Atohoun, Benin
Maggi Barnard, Namibia
Eric Kakore, Uganda
Gill Gifford, South Africa
Anna-Maria Lombard, South Africa
Alpheus Siebane, South Africa
Patrick Maigua, Kenya
Walter Marwizi, Zimbabwe
Betty Mkwasa, Tanzania
Ambrose Namoyo, Malawi
Siphiwe Sibeko, South Africa
Mpho Moagi, South Africa

2003 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Ibiba DonPedro, Nigeria

2004
Alakagni Hala, Cote d’Ivoire
Lokumu Kabamba, Gabon
Simon Peter Kasyate, Uganda
Sarah Kimani, Kenya
Matuma Letsoala, South Africa
Wisani wa ka Ngobeni, South Africa
Dumisani Ndlela, Zimbabwe
Thuli Nhlapo, South Africa
Mwenda Njoka, Kenya
Neo Ntsoma, South Africa
Oscar Ogonyo, Kenya
Orto Sori Orto, Kenya
Cliffderrick Richard Otieno, Kenya
Ouézen Louis Oulon, Burkina Faso
Sophia Phirippides, South Africa
Jonathan Pienaar, South Africa

2004 CNN African Journalist of the Year: Peter Murimi, Kenya

2005
Ntai Bagshaw, Nigeria
Sakina Datoo, Tanzania
The late Deyda Hydara, Gambia
Benjamin Joffe-Walt, South Africa
Julie Kelly, South Africa
Sarah Kimani, Kenya
Nadia Lamlili, Maroc
Nkepile Mabuse South Africa
Hilary Mbobe, Malawi
José Luís Mendonça, Angola
Orto Sori Orto, Kenya
Jessica Pitchford, South Africa
Mohamed Saïm, Algeria
Nicolene Troll, South Africa
Roseline Wangui Wanyiri, Kenya
Debbie Yazbek, South Africa

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2005: Angelo Kinyua, Kenya

2006
Lillian Aluanga, Kenya
Angus Begg, South Africa
Khopotso Bodibe, South Africa
Refinaldo Chilengue, Mozambique
Victoria Cullinan, South Africa
Tanya Farber, South Africa
Salwa Jaafari, Maroc
Desmond Kwande, Zimbabwe
Isaac Masingati, Malawi
Sandy McCowen, South Africa
Dumisani Muleya, Zimbabwe
Sammy Muraya, Kenya
Joe Ombuor, Kenya
Jacques Pauw, South Africa
Ramate Soré, Burkina Faso
Anso Thom, South Africa

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2006: Shola Oshunkeye, Nigeria

2007
Toyin Akinosho, Nigeria
Mary Corrigall, South Africa
Nicola de Chaud, South Africa
Irène Ndzana Fouda, Cameroon
Albert Gachiri, Kenya
Adri Kotzé, South Africa
Anna-Maria Lombard, South Africa
Diana Lucas, South Africa
Esther Mbondo, Kenya
Selma Mhaoud, Morocco
Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Zimbabwe
Stephen Mwei, Kenya
Charity Mutinta Mboozi, Zambia
Kaizer Ngwenya, South Africa
Justus Nwakanma, Nigeria
Boni Odinga, Kenya
Jessica Pitchford, South Africa
Reginald Richardson, Botswana
Musa Saidykhan, Gambia
Odette Schwegler, South Africa
Arão Valoi, Mozambique
Muwana Wamunyima, Zambia
Mandy Wiener, South Africa
James Wokabi, Kenya
Alain Zongo, Burkina Faso

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2007: Richard M. Kavuma, Uganda

2008 Finalists
Lucas Ajanaku, Nigeria
Barbara Angopa, Uganda
Deji Badmus, Nigeria
Marjorie Copeland, South Africa
Kennedy Gondwe, Zambia
John Grobler, Namibia
Israel Laryea, Ghana
Fernando Lima, Mozambique
Emmanuel Mayah, Nigeria
Mwondoshah Mfanga, Tanzania
Richard Mgamba, Tanzania
Peter Moyo, South Africa
Bamuturaki Musinguzi, Uganda
Mutwiri Mutuota, Kenya
Boniface Mwangi, Kenya
Koumouréoua Issa Napon, Burkina Faso
Evaline Ngono, Cameroun
Daniel Nkrumah, Ghana
Godwin Nnanna, Nigeria
Nassima Oulebsir, Algeria
Seyoum Tsehaye, Eritrea
Sasha Wales-Smith, South Africa

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2008: Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono, Zimbabwe