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.
Kenyan journalist Rukia Bulle has been named the winner of the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.
Currently a journalist for Nation Media Group, 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.
As part of the award, Rukia will spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio and online in London, gaining valuable experience, mentorship and other opportunities.
Established in 2015, the Komla Dumor Award honours the legacy of Ghanaian broadcaster and BBC journalist, Komla Dumor, known for his exceptional storytelling and commitment to authentically representing and reporting on African stories. The award seeks to recognise and further support outstanding African journalists across the continent.
The judges were impressed by Rukia’s excellent skillset, resilience and ability to handle challenging stories, her focus on highlighting underrepresented voices, and her strong on-air presence.
The Komla Dumor Award has several successful alumni including: Waihiga Mwaura, now Lead Presenter for BBC New’s 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. The latest winner, Paa Kwesi Asare from Ghana, is a journalist and anchor at Ghanaian broadcaster TV3.
The award highlights the exceptional journalistic talent across Africa, and BBC News’ commitment to investing in journalism on the continent.
Rukia Bulle says: “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. I wanted to honour and contribute to Komla’s legacy in some way. He was one of the best journalists of his generation; he epitomised the true essence of journalism: truth, accuracy, and objectivity. This award fuels my passion and motivates me to become an even better journalist. 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.”
Tarik Kafala, Acting Director of the BBC World Service, says: “I am delighted that through the BBC World Service 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 as this year’s winner and look forward to supporting her in London during her placement. Komla Dumor was a passionate champion of African stories, and we are proud to continue his legacy through this award.”
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Notes
About Komla Dumor
Komla Dumor was a highly acclaimed journalist who presented Focus on Africa on BBC World News, as well as being one of the lead presenters for World News’ European morning segment. To the great shock and sadness of the BBC and its audience around the world, Komla died suddenly in January 2014.
Komla Dumor was the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC's first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. Komla was also one of the lead presenters for BBC World News' European morning segment. Komla joined the BBC in 2007 after a decade of broadcast journalism in his native Ghana where he won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award.
Between 2007 and 2009 he hosted Network Africa for BBC World Service, before joining The World Today programme. In 2009 Komla became the first host of the African business news programme on BBC World News, Africa Business Report. Komla travelled across Africa, meeting Africa's top entrepreneurs and reporting on the latest business trends around the continent. He interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Bill Gates and Kofi Annan. He anchored live coverage of major events including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the funeral of Kim Jong Il, the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the Norway shootings and the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In 2013 Komla featured in New African magazine’s list of the 100 most influential Africans.
About Rukia Bulle
Rukia Bulle is a distinguished multimedia journalist currently working at Kenya's biggest media house, Nation Media Group. With a dynamic career that spans several years, Rukia has consistently demonstrated her expertise in covering human interest stories and children matters. Her work has earned her significant recognition, including being named among the top 100 Most Influential Kenyan Muslims in 2023.
Rukia has a degree in journalism from the United States International University (USIU). She is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Relations.
Throughout her career, Rukia has been at the forefront of digital innovation in media, producing engaging multimedia content that resonates with diverse audiences. Her role at Nation Media Group includes covering major national events, such as Kenya’s 2022 General Elections and the national examinations, as well as producing news features.
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.
Her dedication to storytelling and advocacy has inspired many, particularly within the Somali community, where she tackles important yet often neglected social issues. Multi-lingual and deeply committed to her craft, Rukia continues to make a profound impact in the media industry, championing stories that matter most to society.
