It was all thrills and jubilation for blog editor of Indians in Africa, Sana Ebrahim at the 8th edition of the SABC-Highway Africa New Media Awards 2009 held at the Settlers’ Monument in Grahamstown on Monday evening (7 September).

Indians in Africa (www.indiansinafrica.co.za) was awarded Runner-up in the Not-for-Profit category of the Highway Africa New Media Awards 2009.

The blog, which is dedicated to everything affecting the Indian diaspora, serves as a platform for connecting Indians across Africa and the world in an effort to share cultures and outlooks.

The SABC-Highway Africa New Media Awards are unique and prestigious awards within the profession of journalism on the continent, and reward pioneering, innovative and creative use of technology in doing journalism that serves Africa and its citizens. The Awards were pioneered 7 years ago to highlight the role that digital technologies play in journalism and the media.

Judging criteria considered the use of new media technologies to encourage social empowerment amongst marginalised communities, and highlight innovative and creative applications of global technology for the benefit of the continent’s overall media development.

Indians in Africa was runner-up to Jonathan Berman’s 790Tv blog (www.790tv.co.za) in the not-for-profit category. 790Tv uses video technology to document stories from Hout Bay and Llandudno in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Said Sana Ebrahim, “Indians in Africa is less than a year old, and alhamdulillah (praise be to god) this award shows that the site is making great strides in promoting community activism and journalism. We hope to take this project to even greater heights by running advertising on the site, thereby turning it into a viable online newspaper.”

Managing editor of Indians in Africa, Ms Niki Moore of 7th Avenue Communications was equally delighted with the blog’s achievement. “I am not really surprised by this award – Sana took the concept and turned it into a quality product. It is entirely her doing. She has persevered with a new medium and made it her own. This just proves once again that with modern technology the old ways of publishing are getting a shake-up. “

Indians in Africa is currently building up a database of Indian faith-based and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as contributors. To be a part of this exciting project, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• For full details regarding the 2009 SABC-Highway Africa New Media Awards in association with the Open Society Institute of West Africa (Osiwa), see Accolades abound for techno-savvy African journalists.