Nation Media Group journalist and TikTok sensation Rukia Bulle is the winner of the 2024 prestigious BBC Komal Dumor Award.
The 26-year-old becomes the third Kenyan and ninth receipt of the Award since its establishment in 2015 in honor of the late Dumor, a Ghanian journalist and BBC presenter who died suddenly aged 41, in 2014.
Dumor had become the face of Africa and the voice of Africa – a new young, enterprising, internationally connected, ambitious Africa, with a can-do attitude.
When pioneering the launch of Africa Business Report on BBC World News, he set out to challenge the stereotypical view of Africa.
He was passionate about telling the story of how the continent was changing, of rapid economic growth and technological advances.
Until his demise, he had worked tirelessly to bring a more nuanced narrative of Africa to the world, representing a confident, savvy, and entrepreneurial side.
“The judges were impressed by Bulle’s resilience and ability to handle challenging stories, her focus on highlighting under-represented voices, and her strong on-air presence,” said BBC while making the announcement.
A multimedia journalist, Rukia works as a reporter for NTV, specializing in news and human interest stories. She also writes for the Daily Nation and Nation. Africa.
Ms. Bulle has also successfully built a strong following on TikTok through her relatable and informative content on the life of a journalist under the tagline A Day in the Life of a Journalist where she gives insights into her day-to-day errands as a journalist. Her TikTok account has so far grown attracting over 87,000 followers.
As the 2024 receipt of the Awards and as per tradition, Rukia will move to BBC’s headquarters in London, and spend time working with the BBC News team across television, radio, and online platforms.
”The Kenyan journalist will spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio, and online in London. She will also receive training and be mentored by leading BBC journalists. As part of the placement, Bulle will travel to a country in Africa to report on a story that will be broadcast to the BBC’s global audiences,” said Tarik Kafala, acting director of the BBC World Service.
Reacting to the award, a delighted Rukia who wanted to be a lawyer but who’s currently pursuing a Masters’s Degree in International Relations told Nairobi News the award meant so much as it recognizes her efforts in lending the voiceless a voice.
”At first, I wanted to be a lawyer. I think that stems from my passion for justice and equality. For some reason, law didn’t work out and I thought journalism was sort of close. I want to hold people in power accountable, amplify other’s voices, and make a difference in society,” Ms Bulle says.
Previous award recipients are Paa Kwesi Asare, Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya, Victoria Rubadiri, Solomon Serwanjja, Waihiga Mwaura, Amina Yuguda, Didi Akinyelure, and Nancy Kacungira, the inaugural winner.
