Three investigative reports from across Africa have been shortlisted for the 2026 African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award, with the winner and runners-up to be announced at a gala ceremony on the 11th of November during the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The award, organised by the Wits Centre for Journalism and supported by Absa Africa, is in its fourth year and recognises outstanding investigative reporting across Africa that reveals untold stories, holds the powerful to account, questions those in public life and serves the public interest. The shortlist was narrowed from a longlist of five entries submitted from across the continent.
Lead In Their Blood / Poor Oversight, Regulatory Failure Expose Nigerians to Slow Death from Battery Recycling” by Oladeinde Olawoyin and Folashade Ogunrinde of PREMIUM TIMES, in collaboration with The Examination, Nigeria. The investigation exposed lead poisoning linked to battery recycling in Nigeria, revealing the human cost of poor oversight and regulatory failure. The report was also named a finalist in two categories of the 2026 Online Journalism Awards in the United States.
“Your Eyes, Their Data” by Naipanoi Lepapa of Kenya, in collaboration with Julia Lindblom of Göteborgs-Posten and Ahmed Abdigadir of Svenska Dagbladet. The investigation examines data privacy and surveillance, exploring how personal data is collected and used across borders.
“Nine Lives: King Cat and His Tender Empire” by Jeff Wicks of News24, South Africa. The investigation delves into corruption and tender irregularities, uncovering the networks behind a major public procurement scandal.
The African Investigative Journalism ConferenceThe 2026 African Investigative Journalism Conference will be held from the 10th to 12th of November at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brings together investigative journalists, editors, media trainers and civil society actors from across Africa and beyond to share skills, discuss challenges and celebrate excellence in investigative reporting.
The AIJC is hosted by the Wits Centre for Journalism, a journalism and media training institution at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa, and supported by Absa Africa. The conference has become a key platform for advancing investigative journalism on the continent, providing training, networking and recognition for journalists doing critical work.
The shortlist just tells of the breadth and depth of investigative journalism across Africa, with finalists from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa tackling issues ranging from environmental health to data privacy and corruption. The award has grown in prominence since its launch, becoming a key marker of excellence in the field.
For African journalists, the award offers recognition and visibility for work that often carries significant personal and professional risk. The challenge now is to sustain and grow this momentum, ensuring that investigative journalism continues to thrive across the continent.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
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