Fact-checkers from Agence France-Presse (AFP), Dubawa and TheCable Check, among others have emerged winners at the 2023 African Fact-checking Awards held on Friday, October 6, 2023, in Mauritius.
The award ceremony, now in its 10th edition and hosted by Africa Check, climaxed the two-day Africa Facts Summit held from October 5 – 6 at the University of Mauritius in Port Louis.
The award had participants from various African countries and winners were announced in three categories, namely: Fact-check of the year by a working journalist, Fact-check of the year by a student journalist, and Fact-check of the year by a professional fact-checker.
In the professional fact-checkers category, the duo of James Okong’o and Mary Kulundu from AFP Fact-Check were declared winners, with Kemi Busari from Dubawa as the runner-up.Â
In the working journalist category, Moussa Ngom and Laureline Savoye from Les Reporter Sn and Le Monde Afrique emerged as the winners, while Claire Hiter Mom of TheCable was declared the runner-up.Â
In the student journalist category, Papa Bocar Mbow from CESTI DAKAR clinched the first position, while the trio of Komagal Chocalingum, Georges Aurore, and Permalloo Suhaasinee from the University of Mauritius, were named the runners-up.
Speaking with FactCheckHub at the gala award event held at Le Suffren Hotel & Marina in Port-Louis, one of the winners, James Okongo’o expressed joy over the award and thanked the organizers for providing a platform where works of African fact-checkers are recognized.
“I’m very excited today. I was a runner-up last year. I feel good because the award recognizes the work we do as fact-checkers. This is because most people don’t understand what we do. If we come to events like this where our works are recognised, it feels like the work we do is actually impacting people,” he said.
Claire Mom of TheCable thanked her editors and organizers of the African Fact-checking Award emphasizing that the award serves as a motivation for her to continue doing important stories.Â
“I’m excited. It shows that we are on the right track and it shows that we are checking the right things and doing important stories,” she noted.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
, Dubawa and TheCable Check, among others have emerged winners at the 2023 African Fact-checking Awards held on Friday, October 6, 2023, in Mauritius.){kind=link}