The African Media Awards was held on Thursday (December 4) at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, celebrating excellence in African journalism, digital media, broadcasting, and innovation. This year’s edition highlighted outstanding contributions across the continent and underscored the importance of amplifying African storytelling across all media platforms.
Opening the awards, Government Communication Service Minister Enatalem Melese urged African media professionals to embrace their role as storytellers of the continent’s transformation. In her remarks, Minister Enatalem emphasized that African journalists carry a profound responsibility to present Africa’s stories with accuracy and authenticity. She called on media practitioners to shed light on the continent’s achievements, innovations, and opportunities, and to amplify narratives of resilience and progress that often go unheard globally.
Twenty-one nominees reached the finals, competing in various categories from news reporting to documentaries. Over 800 submissions were received from more than 40 African countries. With nine diverse award categories, ranging from outstanding news reporting and documentaries to Afro-centric entertainment, social media productions, and current affairs storytelling, the event reflects the dynamic evolution of Africa’s media ecosystem.
Designed to spotlight the continent’s most compelling voices, the awards aimed to elevate African stories and champion media excellence across both traditional outlets and rapidly expanding digital platforms. The ceremony underscored Africa’s growing authority in the global information landscape and reaffirmed the media’s crucial role in shaping political consciousness, driving social transformation, and strengthening cultural unity.
The ceremony recognized and honored the brilliance, resilience, and creativity that define Africa’s media landscape. More importantly, it amplified authentic African voices, providing a powerful platform for narratives that mirror the continent’s rich identity, vibrant cultures, and ongoing transformation.
By celebrating excellence across all forms of media, the African Media Awards seeks to propel African journalism onto the global stage, shaping the future of storytelling both within the continent and beyond. The awards celebrated outstanding achievements in journalism, broadcasting, digital media, and storytelling and brought together the leading representatives of Africa’s media landscape.