Kenyan journalist Rukia Bulle, 26, has been named the recipient of the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award. Bulle, who works for Kenya’s Nation Media Group, is the ninth winner of this prestigious award.
Specializing in human interest stories, Bulle has also gained popularity on TikTok for her relatable and informative content about life as a journalist. The award judges were impressed by her resilience in handling challenging stories, her focus on highlighting under-represented voices, and her strong on-air presence.
The Komla Dumor Award, established in memory of the late Ghanaian BBC World News presenter who passed away in 2014 at 41, aims to continue Dumor’s legacy of presenting nuanced narratives about Africa to a global audience.
Bulle expressed her gratitude, stating, “Winning this award means a great deal to me. I hope this award inspires young girls like me, who wear the hijab and come from minority communities, to dream big and achieve their goals.”
As part of the award, Bulle will spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio, and online in London. She will receive training and mentorship from leading BBC journalists and travel to an African country to report on a story for BBC’s global audiences.
Tarik Kafala, acting director of the BBC World Service, praised the award’s role in nurturing journalistic talent across Africa. Previous recipients of the award include Paa Kwesi Asare, Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya, and Victoria Rubadiri, among others.
Bulle’s win highlights the continuing efforts to promote diverse voices in international journalism and showcases the talent emerging from Kenya’s media landscape.
A bbc story
