The BBC has resumed its search for the next outstanding talents in African journalism with the launch of the seventh installment of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.
The search for the next worthy winner of the Komla Dumor Award was launched with an online event on January 26, 2022, featuring an exclusive interview with Komla Dumor’s family.
The interview was steered by the previous winner, Victoria Rubadiri, who spoke with Komla’s widow, Kwansema Dumor, and two of their children in their home – the first time an award recipient has had an opportunity to learn more about Komla from his family in this way. Kwansema shared that she was ‘proud’ of her husband’s impact at the BBC, and also told Victoria that her family is “thankful to the BBC for remembering him” through the prize.
The BBC is encouraging journalists across Africa to apply for the prestigious prize, which seeks to promote and celebrate outstanding journalistic talent living and working on the continent.
Launched in 2015, the prize was set up to honor the memory of the distinguished Ghanaian broadcaster Komla Dumor, who presented on BBC Africa and BBC World News. Known for championing robust, dynamic journalism and for his commitment to reporting African stories comprehensively and authentically, he made a significant impact on Africa and the rest of the world.
BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s legacy through the Award by empowering journalists from Africa to tell original and nuanced African stories to reach international audiences.
The Award is not alien to the Ugandan fourth estate as the country boasts two winners on the prestigious prize’s roster.
Uganda further boasts of having the Award’s inaugural winner.
In 2015, Nancy Kacungira became the very first winner of the Award paving way for fellow countryman Solomon Serwanja who clinched the Award four years later.
The winner will spend three months working with BBC News teams in London across television, radio, and online, and will be given the opportunity to sharpen their journalism skills through training, workshops, and mentorship with leading BBC journalists. As part of the placement, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to travel to a country in Africa to report on a story that they have researched, with the report broadcast to the BBC’s global audiences.
While there, the BBC will pay for the winner’s flights to and from the UK and for their visa, the winner’s accommodation in London during their placement. The winner will also receive £2,000 (approximately Shs9,399,833.85) per month for the three-month placement to cover their living expenses and a one-off payment of £5,000 as a contribution towards the loss of salary in their home country.