John-Allan Namu, from Kenya, has been awarded the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Awards Ceremony.

John-Allan, reporter for Kenya Television Network, won for his stories In the shadow of the Mungiki and Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias, which were chosen from among 1 665 entries from 38 nations across the African continent.

John-Allan was one of 25 finalists at the Awards ceremony on Saturday evening, and was a winner in two categories - the Television News Award and Television Features Award. This is a first in the history of the competition.

The Awards, which rotate location each year in tribute to their pan-African credentials, returned to South Africa in 2009 and were held at a Gala ceremony hosted by CNN and MultiChoice at The International Convention Centre, Durban on Saturday, 18 July.

Tony Maddox, Managing Director, CNN International and Nolo Letele, CEO, MultiChoice South Africa, presented John-Allan with the Award.

John-Allan Namu said: “I feel immensely honoured. I never thought this would happen. This goes to show, anyone from any walk of life can stand amongst giants”.
Chairperson of the judging panel, Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Punch Nigeria Limited said: “The reporter went beyond the surface; stripped the stereotype; and combined sound, images and research to bring new insight and meaning to the story. It’s an excellent example of the kind of journalism that the continent badly needs".

Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International, said: “Tonight’s journalists join an ever-increasing number of professionals recognised by their peers over the last fourteen years. They have become part of a community of excellence, representing the very best in African journalism and maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity.”

Nolo Letele, CEO MultiChoice South Africa Group, said: “Congratulations to John-Allan, a worthy winner and a wonderful example to his peers and young journalists entering the industry. Being awarded the prestigious 2009 African Journalist of the Year is confirmation of excelling in a highly competitive environment. Well done to all the finalists and category winners. Continue to tell the remarkable stories of this wonderful vibrant continent.”

The evening also recognised Nicaise Kibel‘bel Oka of Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, as this year’s recipient of the Free Press Africa Award, who represents the journalists in the Eastern DRC, and accepts the Award on their behalf, including three who have lost their lives in recent years - Pascal Kabungulu; Serge Maheshe; and Didace Namujimbo.

The CNN MultiChoice competition is now in its fourteenth year. Prestigious sponsors include: British Airways; Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank, IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Safebond Africa Ltd; South African Tourism; Zain; Global Media Alliance; and A24 Media. Durban-based accommodation is provided by the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel.

Viewing times:

Viewers across the continent and across the world will this year be offered more ways than ever before to watch the African Journalist Awards:

• The Highlights’ Programme of the Awards ceremony will be broadcast as follows:

M-Net will broadcast the ‘Highlights Programme’ of the Award Ceremony:
M-Net Domestic (IS7) - 29 July at 23:05 CAT.
M-Net EAST (W4 & IS10) - 1 August at 21:00 CAT.
M-Net WEST (W4 & IS10) - 1 August at 22:00 CAT.
AFRICA MAGIC (7) - 22 August at 19:30 CAT.

• Broadcasters in 44 countries on the African continent will be transmitting the ‘Highlights Programme’ during August and September.

• Internationally, the ‘Highlights Programme’ will be shown on OBE TV and Southern Africa Direct in the UK, The Africa Channel in the United States and on RTP Africa.

• CNN International’s longest-running feature programme, Inside Africa will report on the Awards on Saturday, 25 July at 1830 CAT.

• For the first time ever, in its new feature programme BackStory, CNN International will provide viewers with a unique, behind-the-scenes insight into how the awards and competition are put together, which airs on Monday, 20 July at 23:00 CAT.

• The Highlights Programme will be screened on CNN.com Live.

The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 wins a cash prize; a visit to CNN Centre in Atlanta, to attend the three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship; along with the prize awarded to all category winners, which consists of a laptop computer, printer and a cash prize.

Winners in the individual competition categories are:

ARTS & CULTURE AWARD, presented by Nkepile Mabuse of CNN on behalf of Zain Group

Winner: Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria
Title: What the Truck?
Judge’s Citation: Always a delight to read, watch and listen to, this year’s arts and culture section was particularly competitive, said the judges. Ultimately, street art won as Tolu Ogunlesi writing in Glide magazine curated a moving exhibition. Nigeria’s Molues, Danfoes and Gwongoro’s are decorated by motor display artists. He found the art in the commonplace. The trucks, buses and taxis are decorated in a riot of colour, picture and inspirational message. Among them: no condition is permanent as well as a set of religious messages. They symbolised, said Tolu, “…the harshness of daily existence and the stubborn hope…that makes present harshness bearable.”

ECONOMICS & BUSINESS AWARD, presented by William Asiko, President, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Director Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Africa

Winner: Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt
Title: The Business of Islam
Judge’s Citation: This subject, Islam, is usually covered from a political and social perspective – but here we are given a business perspective. It’s very accessible and covers many interesting aspects of the business of Islam.

ENVIRONMENT AWARD, presented by Richard Uku, Group Head, Brand and Communications, Ecobank

Winner: Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya
Title: Nairobi Matters – Embakasi Pt 1 & 2
Judge’s Citation: In Embakasi, the community finds its voice through the young and old, the vulnerable and the neglected who are obviously at the brink of a major environmental and health disaster. The journalist gives a voice to the people who know their environment best. What is desperately missing is the people to fix the problem. There’s no expert-speak; the story goes to the heart of the matter and unfolds itself in the plain language of the hurting community.

FRANCOPHONE GENERAL NEWS AWARD: PRINT, presented by
Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3

Winner: Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius
Title: Allégation de corruption contre Siddick Chady
Judge’s Citation: In this exposé of corruption allegations against Siddick Chady, President of the Mauritius Port Authority, the journalist demonstrated strong, investigative skills. Following a well documented research, including supporting documentation, extensive interviews with experts, officials and other witnesses, Rajen Bablee presented compelling evidence of the alleged corruption in which Siddick Chady was involved. The journalist also resorted to plain and direct writing, shying away from speculation, personal opinion or easy conclusions, rather leaving it to the reader to make his/her mind based on the facts (proofs) presented which also makes his a great story.

FRANCOPHONE GENERAL NEWS AWARD: TV / RADIO, presented by
Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3

Winner: Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso
Title: De l’or à tout prix
Judge’s Citation:
What happened at Essakane, a small village in Burkina Faso, could have been elsewhere in the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where unplanned and irregular prospection of mineral resources have a negative impact on the environment and the communities involved. Through a skilful use of the medium of television, Viviane Tiendrébéogo gives an overview of the events which led to the changes at Essakane from a dense forest, rich with grazing fields, cattle and fish into a different scenery, with a dry and lunar landscape following the discovery of gold in the early 80s. Through the eyes of a camera and the voices and faces of villagers, miners and other actors the journalist takes us through this transformation with all its economic, politic and all human impacts. The authorities are also invited to state their position indicating the steps underway to turn this informal prospection of gold into a legal environment-friendly and industry activity.

It’s an excellent example of the use of the power of television to recount a painful story of transformation with a huge social and cultural impact; a story of change in a small village from a natural and peaceful environment to a desert gold mining field; from a disaster zone to a potentially rich mining area; a story of poverty and people’s struggle for survival; of hard work and hope for the future.

FREE PRESS AFRICA AWARD, presented by Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant

Winner: Nicaise Kibel‘bel Oka, Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Judge’s Citation: The CNN/MultiChoice Free Press Africa Award supports and encourages journalists who continue to tell the story in the face of daunting odds, sometimes at great risk to their lives. Nicaise Kibel’bel of ‘Les Coulisses’ is one such journalist. He has been beaten, threatened and continues to be haunted by officials and local warlords. He remains steadfast regardless. This award is for him and for his journalist colleagues. We commend Nicaisse as a living symbol of courage in his country.

There are three journalists in particular that we would like to mention who were murdered in the Eastern DRC fulfilling their professional duties:

Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)
Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)
Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)

HIV/AIDS REPORTING IN AFRICA AWARD, presented by Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2008

Winner: Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv, South Africa
Title: Taking on the Quacks
Judge’s Citation: Africa’s journalists, sadly, know the ravages of the pandemic and through the years, judges have noted a steady improvement as our media has learnt to cover the story of millions infected and affected by Aids. As the death phase has peaked, quackery has followed misery. Across Africa, a series of charlatans, snake-oil salesmen and those out to make a quick buck ply their trade. Anna-Maria Lombard and her team tracked the quacks on the streets of South Africa. We enter a world of ozonators, aloe vera miracles and followed the camera into a ward of desperate people attached to Star Wars-like machines. Apart from the obvious quacks, the producers also show how the natural medicine sector is not immune from the disease of trading in desperation.

MSD HEALTH & MEDICAL AWARD, presented by Peter de Wet, Acting CEO, Merck Sharp and Dohme

Winner: Paul McNally, Men’s Health Magazine, South Africa
Title: Throw Away the Bones
Judge’s Citation: A story that deals with traditional medicine in a sensitive and comprehensive way. This is a story looking at how relevant traditional medicine is in South Africa today.

MOHAMED AMIN PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD, presented by Salim Amin, CEO, A24 Media

Winner: Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa
Title: Is This the New South Africa? Flames of Hate, Tents of Shame
Judge’s Citation: One of the most important examples in 2008 of how a picture can convey so much more than words. These pictures that went around the world summed up the sheer brutality of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General, Southern African Broadcasting Association

Winner: Ernesto Bartolomeu, Televisao Publica de Angola
Title: Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
Judge’s Citation: To tell the story of a controversial battle which involved three armies 20 years ago in the southern region of Angola is no easy task, particularly when emotions are still high and the account has to be done through television. Ernesto Bartolomeu managed to put what become known as the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale into context, with considerable effort to avoid the winners/losers dichotomy. The documentary, done on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of that battle, takes the viewers through this particular phase of the long war in Angola with considerable effort for fairness and professional balance. The end-result is a visual story, supported by a range of interviews with some of the key players in the process which ultimately helped change the political landscape in Southern Africa.

PRINT GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Krobo Edusei Jnr., Group Executive Chairman, Safebond Africa Limited

Winner: Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa
Title: Flaming Man Series
Judge’s Citation: This is a solid piece of reportage. The journalist stayed with a rather grim story and handled it with sensitivity and care. This is the story of the killing of a Mozambique builder in South Africa in the xenophobic riots of 2008.

RADIO GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Jeff Kupsky, President, Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited

Winner: Sammy Muraya, Radio Metro FM, Kenya
Title: Peace or Calm in Mathare
Judge’s Citation: The reporter sensitively lets the young people tell their own story of the impact of the post election violence in Kenya. The teenagers he speaks to, in one of Nairobi’s slums, show great wisdom and recognise that they will have to live with the consequences of the violence stoked up by adults.

SPORT AWARD, presented by Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman, Global Media Alliance

Winner: Ayodeji Adeyemi, Tell Magazine, Nigeria
Title: Game of Gold
Judge’s Citation: It is a comprehensive look at the game of football and how it is producing entrepreneurs. It is well researched and sourced, and the writer spent time ensuring all the bases were covered. This is a thorough look at how football has spawned a whole industry on the side from viewing halls to product merchandise.

TELEVISION - GENERAL NEWS – FEATURE/CURRENT AFFAIRS AWARD, presented by Joyce Mhaville, Managing Director, IPP Media, Tanzania

Winner: John-Allan Namu and James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya Television Network
Title: In the Shadow of the Mungiki
Judge’s Citation: John-Allan goes beyond the stereotype of the Mungiki as a criminal gang to show how the group has mutated and how politicians were manipulating young people who were trying to find a meaning to their lives. The reporter’s composure, his research and excellent use of images and sound to tell the story made him a winner.

TELEVISION - GENERAL NEWS – NEWS BULLETIN AWARD, presented by Ian Petrie, British Airways, Area Commercial Manager for Africa

Winner: John Benson Mwangi and John-Allan Namu, Kenya Television Network
Title: Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias
Judge’s Citation: In this news story John-Allan reminds us the audience that while politicians might have held hands and formed a coalition government, the deep wounds of Kenya’s worst violence in memory have not healed.

TOURISM AWARD, presented by Jabu Mabuza, Chairperson of the South African Tourism Board

Winner: Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa
Title: Riding Boda Boda in Uganda
Judge’s Citation: On the surface it is a simple story of a man travelling in Uganda to his village. But through Fredrick’s fantastic use of language, the reader is brought along on the backseat for the ride. We experience the delay, the potholes, the know-it-all motorcycle drive with the bad breath as we head to our destination. But through this journey Fredrick also tells the tale of a man making a living for his family and by doing so pays homage to Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit. Where governments across the continent have failed to provide services, it is men such as the boda-boda driver with his bad breath who are able to offer a solution and create their own job.