Mathenge was awarded the overall ‘CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year’ Award for his work ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper The Standard and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the African continent.
The work documents the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya, when the mall was attacked by unidentified gunmen in September 2013.
Mathenge said: “It’s a great honor, and I’m humbled to receive this award. All finalists who are here deserve this award. I hope it will motivate men, women and children of good will all over the world to fight terrorism. Memories fade with time, but pictures don’t. We felt it necessary to capture each and every moment so that generations to come may see the horror.”
His Excellency 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 held at Mlimani City Conference Centre, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday 18th October 2014.
Chairperson of the judging panel, Ferial Haffajee, said: “Joseph Mathenge’s photographs so eloquently captured one of Africa’s toughest 21st Century moments that they were worth a thousand words. That said, the quality of all the winners’ works made the contest a tightly run one.”
Mathenge, winner in the Mohamed Amin Photography category, was among 28 finalists from 10 countries who attended the Awards ceremony as the culmination of a four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking, and sightseeing.
MOHAMED AMIN PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD
Winner: JOSEPH MATHENGE
Title: ‘Images of Terror’
Judge’s Citation: “This extremely powerful body of work, Images of Terror, from Joseph Mathenge epitomises the determination, tenacity, bravery of a professional to document unfolding events for history. The image of a terrified mother playing dead with her two children surrounded by bullet shells, total chaos, tells the desperation of human beings when suddenly our lives tilt from the routine making us face danger and sudden death. Joseph Mathenge is a winner as he selflessly goes into action putting his own life in danger for the sake of achieving a noble mission, that of recording history.”
OVERALL WINNER
Winner: JOSEPH MATHENGE
ENVIRONMENT AWARD,
Winner: Patrick Mayoyo, Daily Nation, Kenya
Title: ‘Ice on the Equator’
Judge’s Citation: “Patrick Mayoyo’s beautifully presented feature in the Daily Nation’s DN2 section elicited gasps from the judges for the scope of its ambition. Mayoyo became an ice-cap expert when he climbed Mount Kenya to raise funds for the Nation’s anti-hunger campaign. In his winning piece, Mayoyo has mastered the science and presents it for his readers with topography, mapping and photography, which show the impact in tangible ways. He has clearly studied the subject and knows the mountain from climbing it – we enjoyed his mastery of science and love of mountains.
The story is a winner for the depth of its research, for Patrick’s clear understanding of his topic, his love of mountains and the implications of climate change he writes up so graphically and presents so well.”
SPORT REPORTING AWARD
Winner: Evelyn Watta, sportsnewsarena.com, Kenya
Title: “Inside Senegal’s mythical Wrestling heritage”
Judge’s Citation: “The story takes you on a journey into the world of wrestling which is part and parcel of traditional cultural life in Senegal & the Sahel region in general. It is beautifully written with the reporter cashing a wide net to look of all aspects of the part wrestling plays in Senegalese life today. The description of the characters and events leading up to the wrestling match make you, the reader, feel as if you were there.”
NEWS IMPACT AWARD
Winner: Anne Mawathe & Rashid Ibrahim, Citizen TV, Kenya
Title: “Veiled Injustice”
Judge’s Citation: “This is a story about rape of minors in the Kenyan Somali community. The journalists gained the confidence of a woman whose daughter had been raped by her stepfather and through that was able to highlight an issue in that community. The interviews of the mother, the daughter and the shattering of their lives are very powerful and the writing was also very good.
The story had great impact as the perpetrator was later given a stiff jail sentence. The journalists displayed empathy, tenacity, patience and above all good writing skills to bring this story to life.”
Certificates of Commendation
Again this year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Certificates of Commendation to 14 journalists amongst them the Kenyans who won are:
Bob Koigi, Farmbizafrica.com, Kenya
John Muchangi Njiru, The Star, Kenya
Christine Muthee & Oliver Oscar Ochanda, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA), Kenya
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2014 competition is open to African professional journalists, whether directly employed or freelancers, working in the continent of Africa who have produced a story which has been made available as a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television; radio or digital platform) whose primary audience are based in Africa.
Congrats Team Kenya.
Courtesy CNN.
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