Non-Asians sweep the board at EMMAs 2002
(31st May 2002)

Non-Asians swept the board at last night's EMMA Awards ceremony winning nearly 70% of the awards from all categories. Partly reflecting the American Oscars voting this year, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry were awarded Best Film Actor and Best Film Actress for their parts in Training Day and Swordfish, while Ali won the EMMA for Best Film production. Best TV Actor went to Eastenders star, Rudolph Walker, who plays dissolute father Patrick Truman in the soap. Diane Parish has been recognised for her role in BabyFather with the Best TV Actress award. So Solid Crew won the award for the Best Music Act/Production while Alicia Keys picked up Best International Music Act.

This year's gala evening saw two special awards presented. A Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in the Music Industry went to legend Ray Charles, while award-winning author Dr Maya Angelou was recognised for her outstanding contributions.

The ceremony co-hosted by Sanjeev Bhaskar saw him and this team winning for chat show 'The Kumars at No 42', which picked up the top award for Best TV Entertainment. Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma, flew in from India to receive a special tribute to his great grandfather's work from Lord Richard Attenborough.

Firm favourite Nitin Sawhney won the Award for Best World Music Act, losing out to Alicia keys for the Best International Act category under which he was also nominated. In the world of sport, Nasser Hussain England Cricket captain picked up the Sporting Personality Award for the year, although he was too busy playing against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston to collect his award in person.

The BBC's documentary 'Islam UK: Islamophobia' won the Best TV Documentary and Zubeida Malik of BBC Radio 4 won the Best Radio Journalist award to add to the Asian Women of Achievement Award she picked up last week. Bobby Syed, founder and director of the EMMA's said, "never has there been a greater need to unite people from all ethnic backgrounds."

He went on to add "this ceremony has grown to become the major multicultural celebration of diverse media talent". Much of this talent was among the audience at the glittering awards ceremony which saw live performances by the Lighthouse Family, Liberty X, Umoja and a comedy performance by EMMA Award winner Omid Djalili.

EMMA 2002 Winners

Best British Music Act/Production
So Solid Crew (Independiente)

Best International Music Act/Production
Alicia Keys (J Records)

Best World Music Act/Production
Nitin Sawhney (V2 Records)

Best Film Production
Ali (Columbia Pictures)

Best Film Actor
Denzel Washington (Training Day)

Best Film Actress
Halle Berry (Swordfish)

Best TV Entertainment Production
The Kumars at No. 42 (BBC)

Best TV Actor
Rudolph Walker (EastEnders, BBC)

Best TV Actress
Diane Parish (Babyfather, BBC)

Best Play/Theatre Production
The Island (The Royal National Theatre)

Best Book/Novel
Amy Tan (The Bonesetter's Daughter - Penguin Books)

Best Comedy/Comedian
Omid Djalili

Best Print Newspaper Journalist
Gary Younge (The Guardian)
Basildon Peta (The Independent)

Best Radio Journalist
Zubeida Malik (Radio 4, BBC)

Best TV News Journalist
Rageh Omaar (BBC News & Current Affairs)

Best TV Documentary
Islam UK: Islamophobia (BBC)

Public Figure for the Year
Bill Morris (Transport and General Workers Union)

Media Personality for the Year
Moira Stuart (BBC News Presenter)
Ahmed Rashid (Independent Writer)

Sporting Personality for the Year
Nasser Hussain (England Cricket Captain)

Top