CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 finalists announced with 6 South African contenders.

This year's finalists of the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 competition has been announced.

The continent wide competition, currently in its 15th year - that celebrates and rewards African journalism in a wide variety of formats, mediums and languages in a wide selection of categories - will have its award ceremony and gala evening on Saturday, 29 May in Kampala, Uganda. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 awards evening will once again be broadcast by CNN International (DStv 401) as well other African TV channels.

The host this year will once again be CNN International's Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN International's weekly Inside Africa. She will be joined by dr. Ronnie Mich Egwang, a Ugandan TV presenter.

This year the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 competition received 975 entries from 40 African countries, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. This was whittled down to 27 finalists from 15 countries, with six finalists from South Africa.

For the complete list of the finalists, as well as what CNN International as well as MultiChoice has to say about this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, click on READ MORE below.

''The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, coinciding with CNN celebrating 30 years as the world's pioneering news provider,'' says Tony Maddox, executive vice-president and managing director of CNN International. ''As CNN encourages, promotes and recognises excellence in journalism at all levels, we are particularly pleased to be able to support journalists who represent our future.''
''I have witnessed the quality and excellence of work in this competition strengthen year on year, and am proud that it continues to maintain its place as the most prestigious Pan African journalist awards.''

''MultiChoice is especially proud to partner with CNN International in hosting the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards in 2010,'' says Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. ''It occurs at a prestigious time in the continent's history. All eyes will be on South Africa and it is imperative that journalists are encouraged and supported to tell the African story with passion and excellence.''

Here's the 27 finalists in this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards for 2010:
• Halima Abdallah Kisule, East African, Uganda
• Kofi Akpabli, freelance for Daily Graphic, Ghana
• Njaka Andriamahery, TV Plus, Madagascar
• Pelu Awofeso, freelance for NEXT on Sunday, Nigeria
• Najlae Benmbarek, 2M TV, Maroc
• Teresa Chirwa, Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Malawi
• DispatchOnline Team, Daily Dispatch, South Africa
• Mustafa Haji Abdinur, co-founder SIMBA Radio, Somalia
• Thanduxolo Jika, Daily Dispatch, South Africa
• Zipporah Karani, KTN, Kenya
• Charles Kariuki, World Vision Kenya for NTV
• Alexandre Lebel Ilboudo, Le Patriote, Côte d'Ivoire
• Lucas Ledwaba, DRUM, South Africa
• Tsitsi Matope, Public Eye, Lesotho
• Emmanuel Mayah, Daily Sun, Nigeria
• Kassim Mohamed, Star FM, Kenya
• Oarabile Mosikare, Botswana for Mail & Guardian, South Africa
• Francis Mugo Mwangi, freelance for NTV, Kenya
• Boniface Mwangi, freelance for The Star, Kenya
• Rose Ramsay, eNews, South Africa
• Sam Rogers, e.tv, South Africa
• Sergio José Sitoe, Rede de Comuniação Miramar, Moçambique
• Leon Ssenyange, NTV, Uganda
• Lamia Tagzout, El Watan, Algérie
• Sebastião Vemba, Novo Jornal, Angola
• Kaara Wainaina, NTV, Kenya
• Roseline Wangui, NTV, Kenya

This year's recipient of the Free Press Africa Award will be Mustafa Haji Abdinur, co-founder of SIMBA Radio in Mogadishu in Somalia.

You can read more about the awards at the official website RIGHT HERE.