Kenya’s Rukia Bulle Wins Prestigious Africa Continental Award In Rubadiri Footsteps
Rukia Bulle, a Kenyan journalist, has won the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.
The 26-year-old is the ninth recipient of the award and works for Kenya’s Nation Media Group, specializing in human interest stories.
Bulle has also built a large following on TikTok thanks to her relatable and informative content about the life of a journalist.
The award was created to honor Dumor, a Ghanaian journalist and BBC World News presenter who died unexpectedly at the age of 41 in 2014.
He had worked tirelessly to present a more nuanced picture of Africa to the world, demonstrating a confident, savvy, and entrepreneurial side.
Congratulations @rukia_bulle the ninth winner of the BBC Komla Dumor award. Well done and wishing you all the best as you travel to London next month to work with BBC news teams in TV, radio and digital. Looking forward to see what stories she will churn out that will be… pic.twitter.com/LNhHuOphCd
— Waihiga Mwaura 🇰🇪 (@WaihigaMwaura) August 14, 2024
The judges were impressed by Bulle’s resilience and ability to handle difficult stories.
Especially with her emphasis on highlighting underrepresented voices and her commanding on-air presence.
“Winning this award means a great deal to me. As a journalist, you constantly strive to do your best, regardless of recognition, so to be acknowledged on a global stage through the Komla Dumor Award is incredibly validating,” said Bulle.
Last year, Ms Bulle was also named one of Kenya’s 100 most influential Muslims.
“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.”
The Kenyan journalist will spend three months in London, working with BBC News teams on television, radio, and online.
She will also receive training and mentoring from top BBC journalists.
Tarik Kafala, acting director of the BBC World Service, expressed his delight that the Komla Dumor Award had helped advance the careers of several journalists across the continent.
“Previous recipients of the award have made significant contributions to public service journalism so we are thrilled to welcome Rukia Bulle as this year’s winner,” he said.
Bulle will travel to an African country as part of the placement to report on a story that will be broadcast worldwide by the BBC.
Previous award recipients include Paa Kwesi Asare of Dingindaba. Jonah Buyoya, Victoria Rubadiri, Solomon Serwanjja, Waihiga Mwaura, Amina Yuguda, Didi Akinyelure, and Nancy Kacungira are the inaugural winners.
Last year, Asare traveled to Kenya to cover the country’s emerging electric motorbike taxi revolution.
Kenya’s Rukia Bulle Wins Prestigious Africa Continental Award In Rubadiri Footsteps
