Former South African president Nelson Mandela, retired archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nigerian author Chinua Achebe are among the first winners of the new Pan-African Broadcast Heritage Achievement awards, which were inaugurated at a ceremony in Nigerian capital Abuja ahead of the country’s 40th anniversary of independence. Mandela was named African of the year, Tutu was named as the winner of the Humanitarian of Africa award and Achebe was named as the greatest contributor to literature on the continent. Ivorian singer Alpha Blondy was named the African musician of the year. Organisers hope the awards will be staged next year in another country, but no venue has yet been decided. – AFP