UP Event Review: 2015 CNN African Journalists Awards Gala; Nigeria and Kenya Shine!

Commemorating twenty years of awarding African journalism excellence, CNN picked Kenya to host this year’s CNN Multichoice African Journalists Awards. Held at the prestigious Kenyatta International Convention Centre, the invite-only red carpet awards brought together all the winners since the inception of the awards in 1995.

US ambassador Robert Bob Godec with Mining CS Najib Balala. IMAGE BY THE STAR

Graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta, key government officials and other special guests, CNN and Multichoice went all out to create a magical event. The journalistic equivalent of the Oscars was dominated by Kenya and Nigeria.

CNN international correspondent David McKenzie with Zimbabwean reporter Faithful Mazodaz.IMAGE BY THE STAR

Fifteen journalists from all over Africa were feted including NTV’s Enock Sikolia with Burkina Faso’s Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou emerging the overall winner.

The night belonged to;

Overall winner and African Journalist of the Year 2015

Hyacinthe Boowurosigue from Burkina Faso.

2015 CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards overall winner Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou. IMAGE BY THE STAR

Economic/Business Reporting

Femi Asu from Nigeria.

Sport Reporting

Urukaino Umukoro from Nigeria.

Culture Reporting

Adewale Emosu from Nigeria.

Energy and Infrastructure Reporting

Paul Kelembe from Kenya.

Technology and Innovation Reporting

Sarah Wild from South Africa.

Portuguese Language General News Award (Print Media)

Carlo Goncalves from Cape Verde.

Portuguese Language General News Award (Electronic Media)

PedroPaxi Pereira Ndoma from Angola.

Francophone General News Category (Print)

Hyacinthe Boowurosigue from Burkina Faso.

Francophone General News Award (Electronic)

Ibrahim Diallo from Senegal.

Press Freedom Award 2015

Zecharie Ndiomo from Cameroon.

NTV’s Wallace Kantai with Citizen TV’s Terryanne Chebet. IMAGE BY THE STAR

“CNN is privileged to be involved in this important initiative to honor the outstanding work across multiple platforms, topics and journalistic disciplines. I salute the finalists for the great work that they have done and look forward to seeing their future achievements.” Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International noted.

(Cover Image from CNN Pressroom Blog )