The winners of the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa Awards 2009

The winners of the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa Awards 2009 were announced. The Awards celebrate radio programmes which help to reduce group and community tensions, which enhance and give value to shared interests, which break down listener stereotypes, and/or which provide positive role models. The final Award winners were chosen from a group of finalists from around Africa.

The winners are:

Special Award Category: "Crossroads", by Community Media for Development.

"Crossroads" is a six episode serial radio drama exploring issues related to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. Created to a high quality broadcast standard, each 20 minutes episode delivers adventure and intrigue, as well as subtly interwoven messages about women's rights. http://www.cmfd.org

CMFD produced Crossroads on behalf of FAHAMU (Networks for Social Justice) and the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) as part of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) campaign.

The jury said, "Crossroads is a quality radio drama programme with good actors, a well written scenario with messages of empowerment and peacebuilding." It was broadcast in English, French, Portuguese and Swahili and several countries including Kenya and South Africa.

Gender Category: "L'arbre à Palabre", a radio program produced by Search for Common Ground's Centre Lokolé (Democratic Republic of Congo).

"L'arbre à Palabre" (Dialogue Tree) is a 30- minute French-language magazine programme. For one week in March, the programme focused on gender equality in the Government. http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/drcongo/projects.html
The jury said, "This magazine programme is well structured and researched. It reflects a variety of points of view and has been produced creatively (vox-pop, drama, studio discussion). It encourages greater dialogue between men and women."

An encouragement award goes to Mohamed Ahmed Ilka'ase for his programme ‘Youth employment builds peace in Somalia'. Mohamed Ahmed Ilka'ase: "I am honored to receive the Radio for peacebuilding Africa Award. It means a lot to me, and encourages me to continue my work as a journalist, to give a voice to the voiceless and to promote peace." The jury said, "This programme gives a voice to young people who were involved in the Somali conflict and are now working. It addresses an important issue and promotes peacebuilding." http://www.irinnews.org/radio.aspx

Our jury members were:

• Kidi Bebey, ex-editor in chief of 'Planète Jeune' and later presenter of 'Reines d'Afrique' on Radio France International (RFI);
• Solomon Mugera, head of BBC World Service Swahili service;
• Marie-Soleil Frère, senior researcher and special advisor to Panos Paris;
• Bernard Chenuaud, training manager at 'Talent+', RFI.