Blogs and social media have evolved in Africa in more recent years and is gradually getting attention in the global web space. Notable social media sites include Afrigator, Zoopy, Sturvs, Ushahidi, Muti, Blueworld, Naijapals amongst others.

If you search through Afrigator or Amatomu, you’ll find a lot of interesting blogs and bloggers that have created a space in the African blogosphere. Around the world, blogs and social media sites such as Digg, Facebook, Mashable, etc are celebrated in the widely recognized Bloggies Awards.

Perhaps we could start preparing for the 1st African Social Media Awards. The awards could have different categories such as best blogs in (celebrity, fashion, entertainment, politics, entrepreneurship, technology, jobs, etc); best social media sites (social music, social bookmarking, social networking, etc); forums (jobs, entrepreneurs, etc) and more.

The awards could be based on a voting process that allows users to vote for their favorite blogs and social media sites and nominate them for the awards category. Nominees could invite their audience to vote for their sites. The criteria would be based on the sites’ idea/concept, audience reach, design and layout, etc etc

Personally, I think that this awards will encourage people to be more passionate about blogging and social media in Africa and thus get the world’s attention that Africa is talking about Social Media. Thanks to Afrigator for that italics line:-)

So the question is: Is the African blogosphere mature enough for Africa’s Social Media Awards?

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