Reportage on Africa – Audiovisual Prize

November 19, 2004

Tags: Communication, Harambee

On November 15, 2004 in the Protomoteca Hall on the Campidoglio in Rome, the presentation ceremony was held of prizes for the “Reportage on Africa” Award, as part of the International Convention “Communicate Africa”, organized by Harambee.

The “Reportage on Africa” Award was set up by Harambee 2002 to give wider recognition to documentaries presenting aspects of the African continent in a positive light. Linda Corbi, convocation organizer, said: “We launched this Award in the conviction that communicating is an effective method of cooperation.”

The opening ceremony was presided over by Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome. Participants were Alberto Michelini from the Italian Government’s “Action Plan for Africa”; Giovanni Minoli, director of the Italian television channel RAI International; Susanna Tamaro, writer and film-maker; and Stefano Lucchini, public relations director of the Banca Intesa, which provided the €10,000 prize for each category.

The jury was composed of specialists in the field of communications and the media from several different European and African countries. Prizes awarded were:

African Productions Category: “Inhlanyelo Fund” by SABC, South Africa. An information program by journalist Michelle Makori about a micro-lending scheme for small and medium enterprises.

Non-Governmental Organizations operating in Africa Category: “Inkingi Z’ubuntu – Search for Common Ground Studio Ijambio”. A program by Lena Slachmuijlder about the Burundi broadcasting station “Studio Ijambio”, which employs both Hutu and Tutsi journalists and shows the part the media can play in promoting peace.

Non-African Productions Category: “The World Told by Children: Eritrea”, a documentary by Serena Laudisa for RaiSat Ragazzi channel, Italy. On accepting the prize, Laudisa said: “This prize is for the smiles of the children, who are Africa’s true hope for the future.”

There were a total of 51 entries for the competition.

Harambee promotes educational programs in Africa and about Africa: developmental projects in the sub-Saharan area, and awareness-building activities in the rest of the world, in order to spread the positive influence of African culture – values, qualities and possibilities for the future.