“I hope the Award inspires young girls who wear the hijab like me to dream big…” Rukia Bulle – BBC News Komla Dumor Award 2024 winner.
Rukia Bulle has been named this year’s winner of the respected BBC News Komla Dumor Award, which seeks to recognise and further support outstanding African journalists across the continent. Reports Sarah Banda
The multimedia journalist who currently works at Kenya’s biggest media house, Nation Media Group, impressed the Award’s judges with “her strong on-air presence, excellent skillset, resilience, and ability to handle challenging stories,[and] her focus on highlighting underrepresented voices,” the BBC said in a statement.
She holds a degree in journalism from the United States International University (USIU). She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in International Relations.
The UK broadcasting giant set up the Komla Dumor Award in 2015, to honour the legacy of Ghanaian broadcaster and BBC journalist, Komla Dumor who died suddenly 10 years ago.
He was admired for his exceptional storytelling and commitment to authentically representing and reporting on African stories.
“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….He was one of the best journalists of his generation [and] epitomised the true essence of journalism: truth, accuracy, and objectivity,” said Rukia.
But Rukia’s influence extends beyond journalism; she is also a skilled moderator and MC, having led significant events like the Level Up Africa TikTok event and the Citizen Assembly, which focuses on driving conversations around the recent protests in Kenya.
Additionaly, her dedication to storytelling and advocacy has inspired many, particularly within the Somali community, where she tackles important yet often neglected social issues
“This award fuels my passion and motivates me to become an even better journalist. I hope it inspires young girls like me, who wear the hijab and come from minority communities, to dream big and achieve their goals.”
Rukia has covered a wide range of national events and news features across Kenya, and specialises in human interest stories and news features. She has also successfully built a strong following on TikTok through her relatable and informative content on the life of a journalist
With the Award, she will now spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio and online in London, an experience aimed at helping to gain further and valuable experience, mentorship and other opportunities.
Rukia will spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio and online in London, gaining valuable experience, mentorship and other opportunities.
She joins an impressive list of the Award’s alumni who have gone on and excelled in their careers. They include: Waihiga Mwaura, now Lead Presenter for BBC News’ flagship news show, Focus on Africa; Nancy Kacungira, a presenter for BBC News; Victoria Rubadiri, host of CNN International’s series Connecting Africa; and Solomon Serwanjja, Executive Director of the African Institute for Investigative Journalism and last year’s latest winner, Paa Kwesi Asare from Ghana, is a journalist and anchor at Ghanaian broadcaster TV3.
“I am delighted that through the Komla Dumor Award we nurture the careers of exceptional journalists across Africa. Previous recipients of the award have made significant contributions to public service journalism so we are thrilled to welcome Rukia Bulle,” Tarik Kafala, Acting Director of the BBC World Service, said of Rukia’s win.
“Komla Dumor was a passionate champion of African stories, and we are proud to continue his legacy through this award,” he added.
