Nigeria counts in CNN/MultiChoice African journalists awards, yet to host event

BusinessDay’s Obinna Emelike and The Nation Newspaper’s Olatunji Olalade won awards at the 2014 CNN MultiChoice African journalists awards held recently in Tanzania. In previous editions, Nigerian journalists had participated and won awards but Nigeria is yet to host the award, as Daniel Obi assesses the awards.

For 19 years, CNN and MultiChoice have encouraged, promoted and recognised excellence in African journalism. The award started in the early nineties when Edward Boateng, then regional director of Turner Broadcasting (CNN’s parent company), was travelling around the African continent on business. During his travels, according to CNN, he became concerned about the lack of respect journalists received and he decided to try and help them gain recognition for their hard work and commitment.

“Working with Edward to launch the first competition were Gary Streiker, then CNN Nairobi bureau chief, the late esteemed photographer Mohamed Amin and the late Esom Alintah, then secretary general of the African Business Roundtable.

The first award ceremony took place in Ghana on August 11, 1995. There were six winners that year from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. No award ceremony was held in 1996, due to the death of Mohamed Amin. Since then the awards has been held in various African countries, except Nigeria. Fortunately, Nigerian journalists have entered and won prizes since inception.

Tony Maddox, executive vice-president/managing director of CNN Internatinal, said: “The passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top-class stories knows no bounds,” reiterating the CNN MultiChoice continued commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards.

The second ceremony was held in Johannesburg in March 1997. There were 10 winners from seven countries.

The 2005 edition celebrated the 10th anniversary of the competition, renamed the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, recognising the new partnership with MultiChoice. A Portuguese speaking category was also launched that year. The 2005’s ceremony was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 2006, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards moved to Maputo, Mozambique. In 2007, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards was held in Cape Town, South Africa.

In 2008, the awards celebrated their 13th year and were held in Accra, Ghana, while the 2009 awards was the 14th year of the awards, and held in Durban, South Africa.

Tanzania, in 2014, hosted the awards again, the first in 2009. At the prestigious event, Kenyan journalist Joseph Mathenge was awarded the overall ‘CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year’ for his work ‘Images of Terror,’ which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper – The Standard – and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the African continent.

The work documents the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya, when the mall was attacked by unidentified gunmen in September 2013.

Obinna Emelike of BusinessDay won the Culture award. His entry ‘The roads between us… a journey across Nigeria,’ clinched him the award. The judge citation described his article both a travel and culture story of two Africans from different parts of the continent coming together to explore Northern Nigeria. It is written as a first-hand account, much like a diary, full of humour and life.

Obinna admits that his attempt shows the beauty of Northern Nigeria to his new friend without highlighting the political challenges the area faces. The author has a lovely way of making fun of himself – whether it is for the lack of his knowledge of this area or lack of the local language. A truly fun and delightful tale of Africans coming together and discovering their culture.

Coca Cola Economics and Business award, presented by Erastus Mtui, country public affairs and communications manager, The Coca-Cola Company, went to Sean Christie, freelance for Landbouweekblad and The Mail and Guardian, South Africa, who wrote ‘Zimbabwe’s Forests Go Up in Smoke.’

Also, another Nigerian, Olatunji Olalade, The Nation Newspaper, article ‘This marriage will kill me – Tragedy of Nigeria’s child brides’ clinched MSD Health and Medical award.

This category provides the challenge of making often complicated and technical issues understandable and readable. The judge said: “Our winner produced a moving account of Nigeria’s child brides and a close look at the devastating medical and personal implications of forcing young teenagers to marry much older men. It is a major story on a widespread problem, written with a deep sense of humanity, and an excellent attention to detail. The medical issues are set out with clarity and the result leaves one with a tangible sense of the horrors of this practice and the long-term trauma.

“It is a moving and informative exemplar of the value of well-crafted health reporting. It was well illustrated and effectively presented. Produced us a diverse shortlist, three very different stories which humanise and highlight issues of health and their impact, both broadly and on individual lives.”

Daniel Obi