Obinna Emelike, BusinessDay tourism and culture correspondent, has in Dares Salaam, Tanzania, been announced winner of the prestigious 2014 CNN-Multichoice award in the culture category.
Emelike was nominated along with another Nigerian journalist, Bayo Olupohunda, a columnist with The Punch and won the award with a feature length story titled, The roads between us: A journey across Nigeria, published in BusinessDay. The piece is a travelogue on a journey from Lagos in the south of the country, to the city of Kano in the north, to see historic sites including the dye pits and the ancient walls and the experiences and encounters in between.
Emenike is a seasoned travel and tourism journalist with years of experience and has travelled and reported widely across continents.
Kenyan photo-journalist, Joseph Mathenge, however won the overall prize, the African Journalist of the Year. He won with his ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper, The Standard, capturing the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya, when the mall was attacked by unidentified gunmen in September 2013.
Tanzania president, Jakaya Kikwete; Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa and Deborah Rayner, senior vice president, International News gathering TV and Digital, CNN International, presented Mathenge with the award at the award ceremony held at Mlimani City Conference Centre, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday.
Ferial Haffajee, who chaired the judging panel said: “Joseph Mathenge’s photographs so eloquently captured one of Africa’s toughest 21st Century moments that they were worth a thousand words. That said, the quality of all the winners’ works made the contest a tightly run one.”
Mathenge had earlier won in the photography category, and was among 28 finalists from 10 countries who attended the ceremony as the culmination of a four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking, and sightseeing.
Rayner said: “This evening’s journalists represent the very best in African journalism. By entering these awards, they have proved they have the determination, professionalism and courage to showcase Africa’s stories to the world. I congratulate each and every one.”
Meyer of MultiChoice Africa, said: “Congratulations to all the 2014 winners, we are proud to recognise your excellence in journalism and to reward you for your courage in telling stories that would have otherwise remained untold.
“We believe the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards has had a profound effect on the African media landscape and as MultiChoice Africa we remain committed to recognising excellence in journalism throughout Africa. We applaud all the nominees and winners for contributing to Africa’s growth and success.”
Also congratulating the winners, Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa said: “I would like to thank all of the journalists who entered this competition and in doing so have helped further develop this award as a platform for excellence in journalism.
“ Your dedication and commitment to tell stories that reflect the reality of our world is very encouraging. A special congratulation to the winners announced tonight. Your work echoes a great future for the role of the journalists and serves to further strengthen the role of the media in Africa. You are indeed all winners and an inspiration to us all – you have made us very proud.”
The awards are now in its 19th year and are supported by a range of sponsors, including Coca-Cola; Ecobank; GE Africa; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and A24 Media.
All finalists receive a cash prize, and iPad Air, with runner-ups receiving an iPad mini.
