2024 Isu Elihle Awards winners!
JOHANNESBURG, 20 November 2024 – Media Monitoring Africa (MMA)is excited to announce this year’s winners: 1st prize and overall winner of ZAR25 000 for the 2024 Awards goes to Innocent Kiiza, who published his amazing story in the Rwenzori Daily in Uganda. Innocent was awarded for his story that explores how Climate Change and Tax Policies Deepen the Struggles of Children with Albinism in Uganda. The story also highlights how children with albinism are suffering because of climate change and strong sunny days. One of the judges commented by stating “The story is fresh and well structured . The story is holding the powerful to account and stand out for the Mandy Rossouw category”.The journalist has done an excellent job in the presentation of this piece.” He will receive a cash prize of ZAR25 000 after being ranked the overall winner by a panel of judges.
The 2nd prize of ZAR15 000 goes to Nicole Tau from Lesotho NewsDay online. Nicole ’s piece focuses on Corporal punishment in Lesotho. The punishment some pupils are going through has negatively impacted them both physically and mentally . In commending the journalist for her great coverage, one of the judges stated “The journalist demonstrated skills in protecting the identities of children. And she is also holding the powerful to account “. She wrote her story in two parts and each part is a detailed demonstration of the pain these punishments cause in children.
The 3rd prize of ZAR10 000 is awarded to Hussaini Umar from Nigeria; he published his story via Aminci Radio. Hussaini’s piece uncovers the hidden world of child cryptocurrency mining in Kano, Nigeria. The story is poignant as it tells how young Nigerians are sacrificing their education for the allure of digital wealth. A judge had this to say about the piece “The story stood out because the journalist is using children’s voices, and the story is unusual and unique ”.
The awards also continue to honour the legacy of Mandy Rossouw through the Isu Elihle Mandy Rossouw Accountability Category, which is awarded to the journalist (if so determined) who made the best attempt at holding the powerful to account on issues specifically related to children. For 2024, judges felt that Innocent Kiiza and Nicole Tau deserve to share the Mandy Rossouw Award. They equally presented pieces that hold the powerful accountable and spoke about legislations and measures government can implement to address the issues. Therefore, Innocent and Nicole will share the Mandy Rossouw prize. Each will get an extra R10000. Congratulations to all the winners, MMA hopes that you will continue to report on stories that involve children across the continent.
The 2025 application date will be announced early next year, we call upon journalists from all over Africa to enter the awards. Congratulations to all the winners!
For further information, please contact: Jacques Ndong, Project Coordinator, jacquesn@mma.org.za; 011 788 1278.