View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

BBC journalist Komla Dumor dies suddenly

By Press Association

Tributes have been paid to BBC TV presenter Komla Dumor, one of Ghana's best-known journalists, after he died suddenly at his home in London at the age of 41, the corporation has announced.

Ghana-born Dumor was remembered by broadcaster and BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Mishal Husain as "one of our brightest and best" while the BBC's Global News director Peter Horrocks described him as "a leading light of African journalism".

Since joining the BBC in 2007, after a decade of broadcast journalism where he won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award, Dumor had forged an impressive career which saw him named as one of New African's 100 most influential Africans in 2013.

Between 2007 and 2009 he hosted Network Africa for the BBC World Service before joining The World Today programme.

Dumor became the first host of Africa Business Report on BBC World News in 2009.

Husain took to Twitter to share her condolences, tweeting: "Our BBC family tonight mourns loss of one of our brightest & best – Komla Dumor. Big heart, big personality, brilliant broadcaster.

"Komla developed his own unique on air style, seamlessly moved between TV and radio & influenced Africa coverage across the BBC."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Horrocks, said: "Komla's many friends and colleagues across Africa and the world will be as devastated as we are by this shocking news. Komla was a leading light of African journalism – committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is. Africa's energy and enthusiasm seemed to shine through every story Komla told. He will be deeply missed."

Richard Porter, the controller of English services for BBC Global News, tweeted: "Devastated at the news about Komla. Talented, clever, warm, charismatic. A great journalist and a great ambassador for the BBC."

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network