Kenya’s Rukia Bulle wins the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award

Rukia Bulle (Photo credit: BBC News)

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.”

Rukia Bulle

Kenyan journalist Rukia Bulle has been named the winner of the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.

Currently a journalist for Nation Media Group, Bulle has covered a wide range of national events and news features across Kenya, and specializes 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, Bulle 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 honors 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 recognize and further support outstanding African journalists across the continent.

The judges were impressed by Bulle’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 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. 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.

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 honor and contribute to Komla’s legacy in some way. He was one of the best journalists of his generation; he epitomized 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.”