The BBC has started the search for the next winner of the BBC News Komla Dumor Award. The awards will be launched at an event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and hosted by the BBC’s Salim Kikeke.
Komla Dumor 2022 award winner, Digindaba Jonah Buyoya, will host a discussion for the BBC World Service program Focus on Africa, on the impact of climate change in Kenya and Tanzania.
Journalists are encouraged to apply for the prestigious prize, which seeks to promote and celebrate outstanding journalistic talent living and working in Africa, and reporting in English.
As part of the award, the winner will spend three months working at the BBC with the news team in London across television, radio and online. They will be given the opportunity to develop their journalism skills through training, workshops and mentoring with leading BBC journalists. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to travel to countries in Africa to report on stories they create and research, which will be broadcast to the BBC’s global audience.
Applications close on 14 February 2023 at 23:59 GMT.
Judges on this year’s panel included: Ferial Haffajee, Associate Editor for Daily Maverick and former Editor-in-Chief of The Mail & Guardian and City Press; Juliet Njeri, Head of BBC Africa and Paul Danhar, Foreign Editor, BBC News
Launched in 2015, the prize was created to honor the memory of the famous Ghanaian broadcaster Komla Dumor, who featured on BBC Africa and BBC World News. Known for championing strong, dynamic journalism and a commitment to comprehensive and authentic reporting of African stories, he has made a significant impact in Africa and the rest of the world.
The BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s legacy through the award by empowering journalists from Africa to tell authentic and nuanced African stories to reach international audiences.
Previous BBC World News Komla Dumor Award winners are: Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya (2022), Victoria Rubadiri (2020), Solomon Serwanjja (2019), Waihiga Mwaura (2018), Amina Yuguda (2017), Didi Akinyelure (2016) and Nancy Kacungira ( 2015)
During his stay, current award winner Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya traveled to Seychelles to report on how the country’s ocean plants can help tackle climate change. Currently a TV host and reporter for Diamond Television in Zambia, the 25-year-old Zambian presenter is the youngest recipient of the Komla Dumor award, and the first winner from South Africa.
Dingindaba said: “Komla Dumor is an inspiration to me, so to win the award and be part of his legacy is an honor. I encourage African journalists to apply for the award, it is an amazing way to learn and develop the skills needed to tell better stories in Africa.
Liliane Landor, Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and Director of BBC World Services, said: “We are proud to launch the BBC News Komla Dumor Awards 2023. The awards and previous winners are a fitting testament to Komla’s dedication to telling African stories with depth and integrity. I look forward to – would like to welcome this year’s winners and I strongly encourage journalists from all over Africa to apply.
For more information about the award, including how to apply, entry criteria, and terms and conditions visit: https://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/BBC-World-News-Komla-Dumor-Award/65528