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Press Releases
Judges announced for 91Èȱ¬ Swahili entrepreneur competition
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91Èȱ¬ Swahili has selected a panel of the leading business minds in Africa to judge the regional heats of its Faidika Na 91Èȱ¬ (Prosper With The 91Èȱ¬) competition for budding entrepreneurs.
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The experienced judges operate in a range of industries including fashion, motoring and media.
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They will decide which of the 18 finalists could best use US $5,000 to turn their idea into a successful business that would have a positive impact on their community.
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The regional heats start in Burundi on Monday 2 June followed by further heats in Kenya, Rwanda (with DR Congo finalists), Tanzania and Uganda.
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In each country the finalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of three judges made up of a 91Èȱ¬ journalist and two local adjudicators chosen for their business success.
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The six finalists will then battle for the top prize at the televised grand final taking place in Uganda on Thursday 26 June.
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Halima Abdallah, who sits on the Ugandan judging panel, also judged the competition last year.
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Halima, who owns a small grocery store in the Kampala suburbs, has worked as a news reporter and as a freelancer with 91Èȱ¬ Swahili. She is currently freelancing with the WIP online news service in California.
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She said: "There are many hard-working, driven, passionate young people in Africa who have brilliant ideas but lack the support to make their dreams come true.
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"This competition gives the winner the financial help and advice they need to make their dream happen."
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The local judges in Burundi are Bakene Mfaume, who runs a computer software and hardware business, and Baraza Sadi, a retail shop owner. The 91Èȱ¬ judge is the Bujumbura office reporter Kazungu Lozy.
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The Rwandan panel on Tuesday 3 June will have local judges Furaha Mugisha, who owns a number of private newspapers, and Madina Musa, who has worked in various top financial positions over the years and is currently studying for aÌýMaster's degree in Management. The 91Èȱ¬ judge is the Kigali reporter Ismael Misigaro.
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The Tanzanian panel on Wednesday 4 June will include local judges Anna Lubuva, who owns computer software and hardware suppliers Netlogic Solutions Tanzania Limited, and Arnold Kweka,Ìýwho owns and employs up to 20 people in a modern automobile workshop. The 91Èȱ¬ judge is the Dar es Salaam editor Vicky Ntetema.
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The Kenyan panel on Thursday 5 June will consist of local judges Mariam Amin, who works in the safari tours business, and John Ndungu, the owner of a Turkish restaurant. The 91Èȱ¬ judge is the Nairobi reporter Anne Mawathe.
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The Ugandan panel on Friday 6 June will feature local judges Jasmine NakayimaÌýAdam, owner of Jasmin Restaurant, and Halima Abdallah. The 91Èȱ¬ judge is the Kampala editor Ali Mutasa.
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Kiswahili-speaking audiences can follow the regional heats over the five days on 91Èȱ¬ Swahili's popular programme Dira Ya Dunia at 15.30 GMT or listen online via bbcswahili.com/faidika.
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Notes to Editors
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91Èȱ¬ Swahili is a multimedia broadcasting service providing radio and online content to Swahili-speaking audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.
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Its flagship breakfast programme, Amka Na 91Èȱ¬, is broadcast at 6.00am EAT and brings regional and world news as well as music and human interest features.
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Its most popular news and current affairs programme, Dira Ya Dunia, starts at 6.30pm.
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Leo Afrika is the last show of the day. Broadcast between 8.45 and 9.00pm, it focuses on African news.
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91Èȱ¬ Swahili's popular 24/7 website is bbcswahili.com. Visitors can access, in text and audio, up-to-the minute news, features and analysis on East Africa and the rest of the world. It also features the award-winning Kimasomaso project, which aims to break down taboos and myths around sex and sexuality and was launched jointly with the 91Èȱ¬'s international charity, 91Èȱ¬ World Service Trust.
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91Èȱ¬ World Service Publicity
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