Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya Wins BBC Journalism Award

Diamond TV presenter Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya has become the first southern African winner of the BBC’s Komla Dumor Award for journalism.

At age 25, Buyoya is the youngest recipient of the award since it was launched in 2015. It was created to honour BBC World News presenter Komla Dumor who died suddenly in 2014.

As part of the award, Buyoya will spend three months working with the BBC News Teams in London across TV, radio and online outlets. He will also receive training and be mentored by leading BBC journalists.

The Zambian journalist will travel to a country in Africa to report on a story that will be broadcast to the BBC’s audience around the world. 

Reacting to the news, Buyoya said “finding out I’d won the BBC News Komla Dumor Award is one of the best things to have happened in my life.” 

“I have a huge admiration for Komla’s prodigious work. I’ve always wanted to be a journalist and I’d watch back Komla’s news reports, inspired by his powerful storytelling and his dedication to covering Africa authentically,” he added.

Judges praised Buyoya, who has been working at Diamond TV for five years, for his journalism, charisma, and passion for sharing stories through digital platforms.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Buyoya to BBC News. We’re excited by his journalistic talent and seeing him flourish during his BBC placement,” said Juliet Njeri, head of BBC Africa.

Buyoya will be following in the footsteps of such illustrious journalists as Victoria Rubadiri, Solomon Serwanija, Waihiga Mwaura, Armina Yuguda, Didi Akinyelure, and Nancy Kacungira, who all won the award in previous years. 

The runner up for this year’s prize is Ivory Coast’s Lindsay Aida Guei, who presents her own talk show on Canal+ Elles, an Africa-focused TV channel.