2009 Finalists and Winners

John-Allan Namu, Kenya

Winner: Television Bulletin Award; Television Features Award and the 2009 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award

Bio: John-Allan joined Kenya Television Network (KTN) in 2005 to formulate story ideas, cover live and regular news events as well as anchoring KTN Business Today, the daily business segment of KTN Prime and KTN Weekend Prime. He also presented a business programme, Enterprise Kenya. As well as having been promoted to Features Co-ordinator on KTN's flagship bulletins, he has shared production responsibilities on the network's morning show, Sunrise Live. He was capped four times by the Kenya National XV Rugby team in 2004 and 2005.

Adeyemi Ayodeji, Nigeria

Winner: Sport Award

Bio: As Business Correspondent with Nigeria's Tell Communications Ltd, Adeyemi Ayodeji is responsible for generating and writing news stories and features as well as overseeing advertising and new business opportunities. After studying Economics at the University of Ibadan, he worked in customer service before becoming an economics teacher. He began his career in broadcast media as a Reporter with Tell Communications in 2006 and was promoted to his current position in January of this year.

Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, Benin

Runner-Up: Francophone TV/Radio Award

Bio: Biaou's radio broadcast career began at Benin's national radio station, ORTB, in 1988 when he joined the newsroom. He is well versed in the field of radio production and worked as a news editor for 10 years training and supervising the radio presenters. In 2003 he was promoted to the position of Head of Programmes and Production. In 2006 he successfully led a major project to overhaul the regional output of the Radio Parakou, the station's regional feed. He's been involved in producing award-winning radio drama and has won several national journalist competitions.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana

Runner-Up: Print General News Award

Bio: Anas Aremeyaw Anas Ghanaian media since 1999 across radio, television and print. He made the move into investigative journalism in 2001 with The Crusading Guide and has since become a member of the Investigative Journalists' Forum, in Johannesburg.  He has won various international and domestic awards for his in-depth investigative reporting and features on human trafficking and is currently Ghana's Journalist of the Year.  His awards include Hero Award 2008, Trafficking in Persons Award (TIP) Administered by the US Department Of State; Kurt Schork Award for International Journalism, 2008 and Ghana's Best Investigative Journalist Award 2005 and 2006.

Rajen Bablee, Mauritius

Winner: Francophone Print Award

Bio: Rajen honed his investigative skills when he joined the Police Service in 1986. Switching to journalism in 1994 he worked with the following media outlets: 5-Plus Dimanche, L'Express, L'Hebdo and Défi Plus. In 2006 he joined the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) but returned to journalism in 2008 as a consultant with Samedi Plus becoming a member of the editorial team. In addition to this Rajen's romantic novel, 'Le Solitude de Dieu', was published in 1995. His academic qualifications include a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, a BSc Hons in Communications and an MSc in Management of International Affairs.

Ernesto Bartolomeu, Angola

Winner: Portuguese Language General News Award

Bio: Ernesto is the News Anchor and Senior News Editor with the Public Television of Angola where he has worked for 20 years. Ernesto studied for his Masters degree in Journalism at the Agostinho Neto University in Angola. He also attended the Brazilian School of TV Journalism before joining South Africa' Broadcasting Corporation, SABC in 1992. He covers a wide range of topical stories and his report on the death of rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi, reached an international audience when it was used by CNN in 2002.

Nicola De Chaud, South Africa

Runner-Up: Television Features Award

Bio: Nicola began her career in journalism with SABC Drama as a Script Editor having graduated from Rhodes University. As a freelancer she has worked across a wide range of genres such as entertainment, education, current affairs, investigative journalism and documentaries. In the last decade she has been a regular contributor to M-Net's current affairs show, Carte Blanche. In 2004 she and Odette Schwegler set up a production company, Backyard Productions. They have recently been commissioned by M-Net to produce Living It, a 13-part series on the lifestyles of Africa's rich and famous.

Ethar El-Katatney, Egypt

Winner: Economics and Business Award

Bio: Ethar joined IBA Media in 2007 as a Staff Writer. Her responsibilities include researching story ideas, conducting interviews and writing features and cover stories for Egypt Today and Business Today Egypt. Prior to this she worked as a researcher for Trust Group on Iqraa' TV's, The Right Way. She has contributed to Muslimah Media Watch and has been a delegate and panellist at international conferences. She has a BA (Business Administration and Arab and Islamic Civilization) and is studying at the same university for an MA in Television and Digital Journalism and an MBA.

Hazel Friedman, South Africa

Runner-Up: MSD Health & Medical Award

Bio: Hazel Friedman has experience as an author, investigative journalist, art critic, copywriter and art history lecturer. She is currently a senior producer of Special Assignment at SABC3, where she has worked since 2005. She has contributed to the following publications: Mail & Guardian, Art South Africa, ArtNews, New York Times, Jerusalem Report, Independent Newspapers and The Lancet. Her books include: Hijack!, a fact-based thriller described by critics as 'the best thriller South Africa has produced' and Farm Lives, an investigation in to the conditions of farm workers.

Nicaise Kibel'bel Oka, Democratic Republic of Congo

Winner: Free Press Africa Award

Bio: Nicaise Kibel'bel Oka is this year's recipient of the Free Press Africa Award for his work in the Eastern DRC. Like many journalists across the continent, Nicaise has faced imprisonment, brutal attacks and death threats. He currently works for Les Coulisses.

Halden Krog, South Africa

Winner: Mohamed Amin Photographic Award

Bio: Photographer, Halden Krog, began his professional career in 1999 when he joined Beeld Newspaper to cover news, sport, entertainment and business stories. He was promoted in 2005 to the role of Chief Photographer and in 2007 he joined The Times Newspaper as Senior Photographer. His work has earned him several awards including Fuji Film South African Press Photographer of the year in 2001 and 2004, Media 24 Magazine Photographer of the Year 2003 and Images24 Photograph of the Year 2006. His photographs have been by international publications including Sunday Times Magazine, Stern Magazine and Time Magazine.

Anna-Maria Lombard, South Africa

Winner: HIV/AIDS Reporting Award

Bio: Anna-Maria began working in television news in 1992 as a Researcher for SABC Television News. After working at SAfm she went on to produce investigative documentaries and current affairs shows including Carte Blanche and The Big Question. In 2005 she co-founded the award-winning independent company, a2 Media Productions, to continue producing documentaries and to provide related journalistic services. Since October 2007 she has launched and managed Health-e News Service, a specialist health news agency providing commissioned documentaries primarily for public broadcast.

Paul McNally, South Africa

Winner: MSD Health & Medical Award and Runner-Up HIV/AIDS Reporting Award

Bio: After completing his degree in Media and Writing, Paul interned with men's magazines Arena and Men's Health before becoming Section Editor for Men's Health magazine in 2004. In 2006 he became Features Writer for the same publication and during this time won a Pica Award for Public Interest Writer of the Year 2008 for his article, 'You're HIV Positive, Now What?' He also won Vodacom Journalism Award for the best print feature in the Western Cape 2008. Paul is currently reading a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town whilst also teaching a course in magazine journalism.

James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya

Winner: Television Features Award

Bio: James attended the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication from 1999-2001 graduating with a Diploma in Mass Communication. He started out his professional career in 2001 working as a camera operator for Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). In 2002 he joined Kenya Television Network (KTN) where he has been working as a camera operator since.

Frederick Mugira, Uganda

Winner: Tourism Award

Bio: Frederick Mugira combines part-time lecturing in broadcast journalism at the Ugandan Christian University with the role of News Editor for Uganda's Radio West Ltd. He is also part-time correspondent for Africa Interactive's websites, as well as contributing to the South African based Mail and Guardian online. His academic qualifications include: a BS Degree in Mass Communication; a Post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Journalism and Communication, and an MA in Communication for Development.

Sammy Muraya, Kenya

Winner: Radio Award

Bio: Sammy's media career began when he joined Kenya Broadcasting Corporation in 2001 as a Presenter and Producer. He has freelanced with MEDIAE Company progressing to First Assistant Director whilst also presenting Sport for Metro FM. He reported from the 2006 World Cup for KBC and KTN. He was freelance media consultant for Kenya's AIDS NGOs consortium and rejoined MEDIAE in 2007 as the producer of Makutano Junction, a weekly show about life in a Kenyan town. He anchored the African Cup of Nations for KBC TV and in 2008 returned to Metro FM to present the Afternoon Show. He trains and mentors journalists in radio broadcast skills.

Boniface Mwangi, Kenya

Runner-Up: Mohamed Amin Photographic Award

Bio: Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning photojournalist based in Kenya. He joined The Standard newspaper in 2005 as a Correspondent Photojournalist. His work has been published in a number of international publications including: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sunday Times, International Herald Tribune and BBC Focus in Africa Magazine. He won the Mohamed Amin Photographic Award category in CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2008. Boniface Mwangi's images have been used in newspapers all over the world. Mwangi is a graduate of The East African School of Journalism.

John Benson Mwangi, Kenya

Winner: Television Bulletin Award

Bio: John Benson Mwangi originally studied Agriculture moving into film and video production with the Agricultural Information Centre. From 1999 to the present he has worked for Kenya Television Network as a Senior Camera operator and Photojournalist. He has been involved in directing, editing and producing numerous documentaries, features and television commercials across a variety of genres including organic farming, soil and water conservation and AIDS Week in Kenya. His qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Film and Video Production and a Certificate in Video Production.

Elshadai Negash, Ethiopia

Winner: Sport Award

Bio: Elshadai is a sports journalist specializing in athletics. He gained experience on The SUN Weekly Newspaper, Addis Tribute and the Sub-Saharan Informer and in 2006 became Sports Editor of My Fashion Magazine. He contributes to a variety of publications including NBC Olympics, Runners' World Magazine, Athletics Weekly and Running Times. He currently writes for the website and magazine of the International Association of Athletics Foundation, Running Times and many more. He contributed to 'The Greatest' a biography of Haile Gebrselassie and a documentary film about Mamo Wolde, the Ethiopian athlete.

Luís Nhachote, Mozambique

Runner-Up: Portuguese Language General News Award

Bio: Luís Filipe began his career in journalism in 2001 with the weekly paper, Savana, as senior journalist and cultural editor. He moved to the newly launched Diario Canal de Moçambique in 2006 as Sub Editor and also of the weekly publication, Zambeze. He developed his interest in investigative journalism attending training programmes and becoming a member of the Board of the FAIR (Forum for Africans Investigative Reporters). Luís received the Aquino de Bagança for a series of articles about drug trafficking in Mozambique in 2008.

Tolu Ogunlesi, Nigeria

Winner: Arts and Culture Award

Bio: As a journalist, Tolu contributes to: Glide (Nigeria in-flight magazine), X-mag (Norway), Xclusive Magazine, Guardian Life Magazine, Tell Magazine, The Guardian (Lagos), Daily Independent, New Age, Business Day, Helsinki Times, Banyan Review, Underground Voices and African Writing. He is a talented poet and a writer of young adult fiction as well as having been published in numerous anthologies. His many awards include: Scenarios from Africa writing competition 2005; the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize in 2006 and The Guardian (UK)/Ziji Publishing Short Story Competition in 2007.

Violet Otindo, Kenya

Winner: Environment Award

Bio: Violet's media career has encompassed both news and entertainment. She started out as a producer and continuity announcer with Sauti Ya Rehema Radio and TV in 1999 joining Jesus Is Alive Media Productions in 2001 as Head of Production. During this time she produced a documentary about AIDS for UNICEF Kenya. In 2006 she joined Endemol East Africa as a camera operator on Kenya's first reality TV show. She currently produces and directs a weekly show, Nairobi Matters, for K24 TV. Violet has a Diploma in Mass Communication.

Odette Schwegler, South Africa

Runner-Up: Television Features Award

Bio: Odette joined SABC TV News as a journalist in 1996. She moved in 1998 to join Carte Blanche as a Senior Journalist. The following year she became a freelancer and in 2004 set up Backyard Productions with Nicola De Chaud. Focussing on investigative journalism Odette has covered a range of topics such as elder abuse, police brutality and government corruption and her stories and exposes are regularly seen on, Carte Blanche. Backyard currently produces all content for 'In Taxi TV' and has recently been commissioned to make a 13-part series for M-Net. Odette is a graduate Cum Laude from Rhodes University.

Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Burkina Faso

Winner: Francophone TV/Radio Award

Bio: In 1998 Viviane Tiendrébéogo embarked on her career in journalism contributing topical news stories to the national radio station. In 2002 she joined Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina as an investigative news reporter. In 2008 she became responsible for raising awareness of road and transport safety as well as highlighting the impact of industry on the environment. Her academic qualifications include a degree in Science and Techniques of Information and Communication and she has trained as an investigative field reporter.

Beauregard Tromp, South Africa

Winner: Print General News Award

Bio: After joining The Cape Argus in 1997 as a General Reporter, Beauregard Tromp specialised in crime and court reports before becoming Features Writer. He joined Independent Newspapers as South African Community Correspondent in 2002 becoming Africa Correspondent in 2003. In 2007 he joined flagship publication, The Star, as a Senior Reporter. His enterprising journalism earned him the Mondi Shanduka, South African Newspaper Journalist of the Year award. With his colleague Janet Smith, he has written a book about Chris Hani, an icon of the struggle for liberation in South Africa.

Alain Zongo, Burkino Faso

Runner-Up: Environment Award

Bio: Alain started out his professional life in 1995 as a history and geography teacher. He made the switch to journalism when he joined L'Observateur Paalga in 2000 as a reporter. He was promoted to the position of senior reporter in 2006. Alain has continued to hone his skills by attending several courses in investigative journalism. He was also the Editor in Chief of the local newspaper, Ouahigouya Tribune from 2002 to 2005. Alain won the Francophone General News Print Category in the 2007 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.

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