Former Nairobi Aviation Student Wins Big at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 Awards. Check Out the Full List of Winners Below

The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 wins a substantial cash prize and all finalists receive a cash prize, and iPad Air, with runner-ups receiving an iPad mini.

Winner: Enock Sikolia & Charles Kariuki, NTV, Kenya

Title: ‘Osteoporosis in Turkana – Wild West Series’

Judge’s Citation: “This is a story of how Osteoporosis is ravaging a community in the Turkana region of Kenya. The writer’s source is the water in the area. They invested time in research but won the confidence of the community to enable them to reveal what is happening to them. The interviews conducted in a remote and not easily accessible region brought out first-hand the extent of the problem. The camera work leans an indelible work in the mind of the viewer. Above all it illustrated some of the challenges the more remote areas of Africa still have to contend with.”

Winner: Paul Kelemba, Freelance for The Standard on Saturday, Kenya

Title: ‘Sorting Out Nairobi Transport’

Judge’s Citation: “This was new ground for the judging panel. It is the first time we have awarded a piece of graphic journalism. Infrastructure is an important topic but it is very a difficult story to make interesting and Paul Kelemba has succeeded. He used a full-page graphic in the Saturday edition of the Standard to paint a scenario of how Nairobi’s epic transport problems could be solved. Maddo, as Kelembe is known, included trams, subways, buses and pedestrianised areas to illustrate the various transport options facing one of Africa’s leading cities. The graphic is deeply humorous as he pokes gentle fun at his fellow Nairobians and the people who run the city. A popular winner, we hope that by showcasing graphic journalism, more young artists will turn their attention to using their craft for this exciting new form of journalism.”

PRESS FREEDOM AWARD, presented by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the judging panelWinner: Zacharie Flash Ndiomo, Cameroon

Judge’s Citation: “Imprisoned in terrible conditions, without visitors or access to medicine, even though he was seriously ill. His ‘crime’?  Investigating and reporting on the origin of the colossal fortune of the then General Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, for his bi-monthly newspaper Le Zénith. Zacharie Ndiomo is not the only journalist to be harassed in Cameroon. The rights of the press are continually violated. The police interrogations, arbitrary arrests and financial pressures are increasing. The judging panel award the 2015 Press Freedom Award to Zacharie Ndiomo, as the symbol of the resistance of the Cameroonian journalists in the face of all those who try to silence them.”

CULTURE AWARD, presented by Stephen Isaboke, Regional Director, East Africa, MIH

Winner: Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, tribuneonlineng.com, Nigeria

Title: ‘Bahia: Even in Brazil, African heritage lives on’

Judge’s Citation: “The story is about how African culture has been transplanted to South America via slavery. This story showed that over the years, African culture has not only been preserved but thrived – almost more than its origins. The reporter actually went to Brazil for a Sports Fiesta – the World Cup, but then went out of his way to look and discover this story. He did comprehensive work to bring the story to life.”

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ENVIRONMENT AWARD, presented by Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the African Development Bank Group

Winner: Thomas Naadi Bitlegma, Viasat1, Ghana

Title: ‘The Toxic Trade’

Judge’s Citation: “The Toxic Trade story drives home a point to African TV audiences. Thomas Bitlegma skilfully narrates the menace of electronic waste in Ghana like many African countries, while at the same time impacting their health negatively. It is a timely coverage of a real time problem. His story is compelling as it demonstrates the danger for kids, adults and social health in Ghana. He merits this award for he was simple but deep in presenting the problem.”

FRANCOPHONE GENERAL NEWS AWARD – ELECTRONIC MEDIA, presented by Greg Beitchman, VP Content Sales & Partnerships, CNN International

Winner: Ibrahima Diallo, Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), Senegal

Title: ‘L’action antimines en Casamance: un pas vers la relance des activités…’

Judge’s Citation: “Antimine Action is a brillant piece on the rebirth of a village after it was cleared of mines. The village has been surrounded by mines for 15 years, and all the activities were stopped. With the antimine action, children can go to back to school and play, the farmers can harvest the anacard, and the buyers of cachou can enter the village…. Ibrahim Diallo really does a great job in allowing us to share the feeling of revival of the inhabitants of the village. Sharp pictures, smart editing, a very good TV achievement. Most of all, a great story about relief and hope.”

ECOBANK ECONOMICS & BUSINESS AWARD, presented by Richard Uku, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Ecobank

Winner: Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria

Title: ‘Small businesses in death throes as power supply worsens’

Judge’s Citation: “This is a story about how the lack of stable electricity supply harms small businesses in Nigeria. Femi Asu focused on an issue not particular to Nigeria but to many African countries. With detailed examples, the author demonstrates how businesses are severely affected including in some cases closing down with huge consequences on the country’s economic development. The piece is well written with the reader taken on a journey that highlights the issue with affected individuals and businesses. Excellent research.”

MOHAMED AMIN PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD, presented by Alexandria Madjallah, presenter & producer for AFRICA24 MEDIA

Winner: Herman Verwey, Beeld, South Africa

Title: ‘The Oscar Pistorius murder trial’

Judge’s Citation: “Is it a photo, or is it video …? When you look at Herman Wervey’ work, for a second, you can wonder… The characters are so full of life, these pictures really give you a sense of their feelings. Herman’s body of work gives also a proper idea of the high pressure that surrounded this trial, so important for the South African society… Being able to capture so precisely the inner feelings of the actors of this story is really the sign of the talent and the mastery of a great photographer.”

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GENERAL NEWS AWARD – Print, presented by Arlindo Lopes, Acting GM, MultiChoice Angola

Winner: Carla Gonçalves, A Nação, Cape Verde

Title: ‘Memorial Amílcar Cabral vandalizado e tomado pelo lixo’

Judge’s Citation: “This particular story shows the power of journalism and society.  One of them is the positive power not just announcing what is wrong but the positive power in a society, which is educational, also training people for good values in society. Powerful stories like this should be told and governments should be made to be aware of their responsibilities towards the heroes of their countries. The story was told in a very powerful but simple way, which meant everyone else could understand the story. People in top positions in government, ordinary people were told the story in a way they understood it very well.”

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GENERAL NEWS AWARD – Electronic Media, presented by Arlindo Lopes, Acting GM, MultiChoice Angola

Winner: Pedro Paxi Pereira Ndoma, TV Zimbo, Angola

Title: ‘Erupçao Vulcanica na Ilha do Fogo’

Judge’s Citation: “This outstanding piece of reporting by a crew of Angola’s privately owned TV Zimbo highlights the destruction to property and displacement of at least 1500 people caused by the volcanic eruption in the Island of Fogo, Cape Verde in 2014. The story was chosen in its category not only because of its environmental impact and bearing on climatic changes, but also the powerful images captured by the TV Zimbo crew. The footage captures the voices of some of those affected by this natural disaster, the second to happen on the island since 1995, causing damages estimated at close to 50 million Euros.”

NEWS IMPACT AWARD, presented by Chris Diaz, Chief Marketing Officer, Kenya Airways

Winner: Ibanga Isine, Premium Times Newspaper, Nigeria

Title: ‘INVESTIGATION: Massacre in Gboko’

Judge’s Citation: “Great journalism has an impact. This series by Premium Times and written by Ibanga Wilson Isine has great impact. A man is shot for straying too close to the perimeter fence of a cement factory in Benue State. He is hurt but not killed.  His community is angry and protests at the gates.  Trigger happy soldiers who protect strategic installations open fire. Seven people are killed. Non-existent. That word best describes the commitment of local police to investigate the killings.   In the gap, Premium Times steps in and ensures the killings are not in vain. The injured are compensated.  So are the families of the people who died. Ibanga stayed with the story in a series of excellently constructed digital articles.”

SPORT REPORTING AWARD, presented by David McKenzie, International correspondent, CNN

Winner: Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria

Title: ‘Monuments of waste: Nigeria’s white elephant stadiums’

Judge’s Citation: “In this outstanding story by Arukaino Umukoro, from the Punch newspaper in Lagos, Nigeria, the reader is taken on a nationwide journey that illustrates the lack of maintenance in sports infrastructures built at a high cost, a phenomenon that tends to be common in many African countries. The article is both well written and documented with telling pictures of the sorry state in which many sports facilities in Nigeria find themselves. It highlights the fact that, because of the unsuitability of many sports arenas in Nigeria due to neglect, athletes, for instance, are forced to resort to private facilities or travel abroad to prepare for international competitions. The author shows the Surulere National Stadium in Lagos as the worst example of neglected sports facilities. Built in 1972, the stadium has hosted several national, continental and international competitions.”

DOW TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION REPORTING AWARD, presented by Ross McLean, President Dow Sub-Saharan Africa

Winner: Sarah Wild, Mail & Guardian, South Africa

Title: ‘Robot to test health of ocean ‘lungs’’

Judge’s Citation: “Sarah Wild delivered an original report on a major innovation in research over global warming, conducted by a South African scientific team. As we get closer to the Paris conference on Climate, it’s an excellent reminder that there are African-led research programs at the forefront of the climate change issue. Sarah Wild transports the reader into the heart of the project, with the team deploying this new generation of sea-cruising robots. We can share the excitement of the scientists thanks to Sarah’excellent writing. It demonstrates that science stories can be as exciting as politics, sports or features when guided by a maestro.”

FEATURES AWARD, presented by Joseph Mathenge, 2014 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist

Winner: Julie Laurenz & Jacquelin

Ways to Watch the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards:

The African Journalist Awards will be made available to broadcasters across Africa.

Viewers across the continent and across the world will be able to watch the Awards in the coming weeks and months.