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Press Releases
Four African countries big winners at first BBC Africa Radio Awards
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South African radio station 702 Talk Radio won Station of the Year in the first BBC Africa Radio Awards, hosted by the BBC's popular presenter Komla Dumor.
Ghana's Citi FM and Joy FM, Kenya's Capital FM and KBC, South Africa's
Radio 786 and Uganda's Radio Pacis were also winners in a night of star-studded celebration which included live performances from Nigerian
rapper 2Face Idibia, South African vocalist Thandiswa Mazwai and Kenyan
newcomer Valerie Kimani.
The awards were held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
tonight and highlights can be seen and heard across
Africa via the BBC World Sevice's radio programmes in English and Swahili, the
international news and information channel BBC World and the music
channel MTV base (Africa).
The winners are:
Radio Station of the Year
702 Talk Radio - South Africa
New Radio Station of the Year
Radio Pacis - Uganda
News Journalist of the Year
Esther Mbondo, KBC, Kenya
Sports Journalist of the Year
James Wokabi, Capital FM, Kenya
Local On-Air Campaign of the Year
Matilda Asante, Joy FM, Ghana
Interactive/Talk Show of the Year
The Citi Breakfast Show hosted by Bernard Avle, Citi FM, Ghana
Young Broadcaster of the Year
Qaanitaah Dramat, Radio 786, South Africa
The BBC launched its Africa-wide search for the very best radio talent in
Autumn 2006. It wanted to recognise and celebrate the exceptional
broadcasting talents of those working in continent's vibrant radio scene.
Jerry Timmins, Head of the BBC World Service Africa and Middle East
Region, explained: "In recent years there has been a big increase in the
number of radio stations serving African listeners. Many of them speak
powerfully to audiences and are making really inspiring programmes.
"We want to celebrate this exciting development and support ambition for
even greater work. We also wanted to use our unique position as a global
broadcaster to share this positive African story with millions of
listeners and viewers around the world."
The renowned show producer, Namibian-born Jan Malan, staged the event for
the BBC which also featured design from the African duo, Sun Goddess.
He said: "I grew up listening to the BBC as a boy so I am honoured to be
involved in this inspirational awards show. Promoting African talent is
my biggest passion - anything that brings African dreams and skills to an
international stage."
Young Ghanaian designer Jery (Jerimiah) Obuobi created the winners'
trophies. He captured the essence of listening to radio in Africa with a
design which features the continent and its people.
He said: "I had a very strong
brief for this. I had to reflect the vibrancy of broadcasting in Africa.
It's been a challenge but it's thrilling to see the trophies in the hands
of people who deserve them – the people who bring radio alive."
Expert judges from throughout Africa listened to hundreds of hours of
radio to finalise the prize winners and reward excellence – including
representatives of the audience who won their coveted places on the
judging panels through a competition.
Vera Kwakofi, Africa Radio Awards Project Manager, gave up her usual job
as one of the BBC's most popular presenters to manage the competition.
She said: "As someone who started out in the pioneering days of independent
broadcasting in Ghana in the mid-1990s, I know just how important the
flourishing radio scene is right across Africa.
"I decided to park my presenting career for a few months and concentrate
on celebrating the skills of my colleagues. The decision has been
vindicated.
"I have been delighted by the wide range of entries and the
excellent skills demonstrated. All the finalists were of a very high
standard, and some tough choices had to be made to select the overall
winners."
The judges considered seven categories of broadcasting talent and
expertise, from newcomers, sports reporting and news journalism to local
on-air campaigns and interactive programming.
The judges' comments included:
Radio Station of the Year: 702 Talk Radio - South Africa
A confident and professional station which uses its immense resources to
change people's lives through broadcasting and community activities.
Especially impressed with the range of on-air initiatives including
hosting a live debate with political parties before elections, hosting
and organising the press conference to quiz Vice President Jacob Zuma the
day after his acquittal on rape charges, hosting a celebrity party for
the Oscar-winning film, Totsi, and unveiling the FIFA World Cup at a
special ceremony.
New Radio Station of the Year: Radio Pacis - Uganda
A fine example of what a community radio station based outside the
capital can do. Based in Arua in Uganda's West Nile district, it may
have a small staff and modest resources but it still addresses
challenging local issues including providing advice on medical and health
problems and debating matters of local interest alongside local and
national news. It has some problems with sound quality but the judges
are convinced Pacis contributes significantly to knowledge and
development in the area.
News Journalist of the Year: Esther Mbondo, KBC, Kenya Campaigning journalism at its best. She exposed the scandal of children
abandoned at Nairobi's Kenyatta Hospital by parents who cannot afford to
pay for their care. Esther followed the case of a little girl brought in
after an accident at school. She is there weeks before her mother is
finally tracked down to a Nairobi slum, and mother and child are re-
united.
Sports Journalist of the Year: James Wokabi, Capital FM, Kenya
Singled out for his versatility and knowledge, James reports, presents
and produces on a wide range of sports, from boxing and football to track
and athletics. The judges were especially impressed with a "riveting"
discussion between marathon running legends Haile Gebreselassie from
Ethiopia and Paul Tergat from Kenya. Also a well-crafted radio feature
on Tegla Leroupe's efforts to promote peace in West Pokot through sport.
Local On-Air Campaign of the Year: Matilda Asante, Joy FM, Ghana
The judges recognised the sensitive way Matilda covered the shocking
story of an eight-year-old girl who was raped by an elderly relative. It
was so brutal the girl was severely injured and needed extensive
surgery. The story brought the plight of child rape to the nation's
attention and resulted in criminal charges in this specific case. It also
raised US $10,000 towards the cost of the child's treatment and
demonstrated Joy FM as a campaigning and socially responsible station.
Interactive/Talk Show of the Year: The Citi Breakfast Show hosted by
Bernard Avle, Citi FM, Ghana
This show successfully mixes studio guests, outside broadcasts, phone-ins
and text messages to ensure it's tapping into the stories the local
community want to hear. Bernard Avle has a questioning, outgoing
personality which gets to the heart of issues in a fun and informative
way. He often takes his listeners' complaints direct to those
responsible, and nothing is taboo with everything, from free condoms and
sexual harassment to Kwame Nkrumah's legacy, coming under scrutiny.
Young Broadcaster of the Year: Qaanitaah Dramat, Radio 786, South Africa
The judges describe her as an extremely lively broadcaster who is clearly
ambitious to succeed, but Qaanitaah's entry demonstrated her skills in
letting the story speak for itself. She spoke in depth to a reformed
criminal who confesses his past exploits to her and talks movingly about
his childhood, his time in prison and the impact of his crimes on the
people around him.
The judges were:
East Africa – chair: Tido Mhando, Managing Director Tanzanian
Broadcasting Services; Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, writer, conservationist and
cultural worker from Kenya; Ugandan-born BBC World Service presenter,
Alex Jakana; and Kenyan listener judge Sarah Simons who is a Programme
Manager with Geographic Information Systems and is studying for a PhD at
the Kenya Institute for Study in Criminal Justice.
South Africa – chair: Ferial Haffajee, Editor of South Africa's Mail &
Guardian newspaper; Zambian-born Maureen Nkandu-Mundea, who presents
flagship BBC World Service programme Focus On Africa; and listener judge
Zandile Tshabalala, a teacher and bank worker from Swaziland.
West Africa – chair: Professor Dora Akunyili, Director General of
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria;
BBC World Service Senior Producer and Presenter for African News and
Current Affairs, Bola Mosuro; and listener judge Selase Kwawu who is a
student studying Computer Science and Chemistry at the University of
Ghana.
Final judging – The distinguished journalist and broadcaster Robin White
joined by the three regional chairs: Professor Dora Akunyili, Ferial
Haffajee and Tido Mhando.
BBC radio coverage of the awards included live coverage on the BBC
Swahili and BBC English language services, and highlights from the awards
will be broadcast on a wide range of programmes including African
Perspective, Africa Have Your Say, Focus On Africa, Weekend Network
Africa and World Have Your Say.
Forthcoming radio and TV coverage of the BBC Africa Radio Awards includes:
Sunday 27 May
BBC World Service: Weekend Network Africa: 04.00 GMT & 06.00 GMT.
Listen again to Joseph Warungu's live broadcast from the Awards.
Saturday 2 June, Sunday 3 June & Monday 4 June
BBC World: 05.30 and 20.30 GMT (Sat), 11.30 GMT (Sun), 01.30 GMT (Mon).
The BBC's 24-hour international news and information television channel
will carry highlights of the Awards gala.
Saturday 2 - Saturday 9 June
MTV base (Africa): Digital Channel: 17.30 GMT - DStv Channel 88.
The pan-African music channel will carry a week of highlights of the
awards gala, starting 2 June, which includes interviews with winners and
performing artistes, sourced by MTV. A half-hour programme will be
broadcast on 9 June.
There is also full coverage of the awards on the BBC's website
bbcworldservice.com/africaradioawards.
Notes to Editors
The BBC's international radio and online broadcaster, BBC World Service,
broadcasts more than 27 hours a week of radio programming specifically
for Africa.
Around 19 million people listen to the BBC in English each
week across the continent.
The BBC also broadcasts to Africa in Arabic,
French, Hausa, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Portuguese, Somali and Swahili.
BBC World Service Publicity
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