The BBC is currently searching for a talented journalist from Africa to be awarded the BBC News Komla Dumor Award, which is now in its ninth year. The award aims to discover and promote fresh talent from the continent, and journalists from across Africa are invited to apply.
The successful candidate will spend three months at the BBC headquarters in London, where they will gain valuable skills and experience. The deadline for applications is 15 March 2024 at 23:59 GMT.
The award was established to honour Komla Dumor, a renowned Ghanaian broadcaster and BBC World News presenter who passed away suddenly at 41 a decade ago. His widow, Kwansema Dumor, expressed her gratitude to the BBC for remembering her husband through the award and her pride in his impact on the BBC.
The BBC is encouraging African journalists to apply for the prize, which seeks to promote and celebrate exceptional journalistic talent living and working on the continent. In addition to receiving training, the winning journalist will have the opportunity to travel to an African country to report on a story they have researched, with the report broadcast to the BBC’s global audiences.
Dumor was known for his commitment to reporting African stories comprehensively and authentically and championing dynamic, robust journalism. The BBC is committed to continuing its legacy through the award by empowering African journalists to tell nuanced and original African stories to reach international audiences.
Last year’s winner was Ghanaian news anchor Paa Kwesi Asare, who travelled to Kenya to report on the push to make the country’s “boda boda” motorbike taxis use electricity rather than petrol or diesel.
According to Liliane Landor, senior controller of BBC News International Services, the BBC has been impressed and delighted with the calibre of talent that has shone through thanks to the award in Komla’s name.
Dumor was the presenter of the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news program in English for African audiences, Focus on Africa. He was also one of the lead presenters for BBC World News’ European morning segment, and he 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.
