Africa and the rest of the world will on Saturday witness another eventful happening as Africa’s best and top journalists gather in the city of Durban in South Africa for the 14th annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards. This year has seen a steady, remarkable improvement in the overall quality of the entries. 836 entries came from across the continent including French and Portuguese speaking Africa all with very compelling stories, well told and reported. This gave the judging panel a difficult task in deciding who becomes the best and the overall award winner. Before the gala awards night on Saturday, the finalists from 12 countries are expected to arrive in Durban on Wednesday for various activities including seminars, workshops and sightseeing. Last year’s awards held in Accra had Israel Laryea of Joy FM and Emmanuel Nkrumah of the Daily Graphic in the finalists. Israel Laryea made Ghana roar with pride and joy when he emerged winner of the best radio report category award. Anas Aremeyaw Anas, from the New Crusading Guide Newspaper is the only Ghanaian among this year’s finalists. Ghanaians, in spite of the rather low turnout in the finalists are very expectant, even pitching their hopes to the overall awards with the belief and pride that Anas is certainly one of the finest journalists in Africa. His recent mention by President Barack Obama during his historic visit to Ghana gives the young investigative journalist a lot of international recognition. “I was very happy and humbled when President Obama mentioned Mr. Anas as one of the young people fighting a worthy cause on the continent. It gives me a lot of hope that whatever we do with passion, commitment and professionalism, we certainly will get results and some recognition someday” said Edward Boateng, co-founder of the awards. The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening at The International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa on Saturday 18th July. The hosts for the evening will be Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN weekly programme ‘Inside Africa’, joined on stage by South African eNews Channel presenter Macfarlane Molele. These year’s finalists include the following journalists • Ayodeji Adeyemi, TELL Magazine, Nigeria • Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB - Parakou, Benin • Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana • Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius • Ernesto Bartolomeu, TPA, Angola • Nicola De Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa • Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt • Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa • Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa • Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e News Service for 3rd Degree e.tv, South Africa • Paul McNally, Men's Health Magazine, South Africa • James Moturi Mogaka, KTN, Kenya • Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian online www.mg.co.za, Uganda • Sammy Muraya, Metro FM, Kenya • Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya • John Benson Mwangi, KTN, Kenya • John-Allan Namu, KTN, Kenya • Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia • Luís Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique • Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria • Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya • Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa • Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso • Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa • Alain Zongo, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso About the award: The CNN African Journalist of the Year Award was founded in 1995 by Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman of Global Media Alliance ( and formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., CNN’s parent company) and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognise and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa. Entries were published or broadcast in 2008 for the following awards: Arts & Culture: Economics and Business: Environment: Free Press Africa; HIV/AIDS Reporting; MSD Health & Medical: Mohamed Amin Photographic; Print General News; Radio General News; Sport; Television Features; Television News Bulletin; Tourism; Francophone General News; Portuguese Language General News Credit: Global Media Alliance