John-Allan Namu, from Kenya, has been awarded the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Awards Ceremony at The International Convention Centre, Durban this evening, Saturday 18th July.

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 1665 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.

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 among giants.”

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 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
Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria

Economics & Business Award
Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt

Environment Award
Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya

Francophone General News Award: Print
Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius

Francophone General News Award: TV / Radio
Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso

Free Press Africa Award
Nicaise Kibel‘bel Oka, Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Hiv/Aids Reporting In Africa Award
Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv, South Africa

MSD Health & Medical Award
Paul McNally, Men’s Health Magazine, South Africa

Mohamed Amin Photographic Award
Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa


Portuguese Language General News Award
Ernesto Bartolomeu, Televisao Publica de Angola

Print General News Award
Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa

Radio General News Award
Sammy Muraya, Radio Metro FM, Kenya

Sport Award
Ayodeji Adeyemi, Tell Magazine, Nigeria


Television - General News – Feature/Current Affairs Award
John-Allan Namu and James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya Television Network

Television - General News – News Bulletin Award
John Benson Mwangi and John-Allan Namu, Kenya Television Network


Tourism Award
Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa


Again this year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Commendations in six categories. These journalists participated in the finalists’ programme in Durban and received a cash prize and Certificates of Commendation.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana

Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB, - Parakou, Benin

Nicola De Chaud and Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa

Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC South Africa

Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya

Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia

Luís Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique

Alain Zongo, L’Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso