Kenyan photographer, Joseph Mathenge, yesterday emerged the overall CNN Multi Choice African Journalist of the Year for 2014.
It was the first time a photojournalist was winning the award in its history.
Mathenge won with his work ‘Images of Terror’ which appeared in Kenyan daily newspaper The Standard.
The overall winner’s work documents the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya when the mall was attacked by yet unidentified gunmen in September 2013.
Two Nigerians – led by The Nation’s Olatunji Ololade and Business Day’s Obinna Emelike won in the Health and Culture categories respectively.
Olatunji won for his report on the plight of Africa’s child brides.
Jakaya Kikwete President of Tanzania; Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa and Deborah Rayner, SVP International Newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, presented Mathenge with the Award at a Gala Awards ceremony at Mlimani City Conference Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Twenty eight finalists from 10 countries attended the ceremony as the culmination of a four -day programme of workshops, media forums, networking and sightseeing.
The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2014 wins a substantial cash prize and a visit to CNN Centre in Atlanta to attend the three- week CNN Journalism Fellowship.
All finalists receive a cash prize and iPad Air with runner-ups receiving an iPad mini.
Ololade has also won several other nominations and awards. He was winner Diamond Award for Media Excellence Anthony Enahoro Prize for Political Reporting (2012); Winner, Diamond Award for Media Excellence UNICEF Prize for Child-friendly Reporting (2012); Winner, Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year(NMMA-2012); Winner, B.A.T Prize for Industry Reporter of the Year (NMMA-2012); Winner, Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year, Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA-2011); Winner, Ibrahim Buba Shekarau Prize for Education Reporter of the Year, NMMA-2011; Winner, B.A.T Prize for Industry Reporter of the Year NMMA-2011; Diamond Award for Media Excellence Prize for Best Judicial Reporting of the Year (2010); Winner, Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year (NMMA-2010); Winner, Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year NMMA-2009; Winner, Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year NMMA-2009.
