A Celebration of Life

1972 - 2014

FORECOURT OF THE STATE HOUSE, ACCRA, GHANA, 7:00AM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014

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Order Of Service

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014

PART ONE

PART TWO

Pre-Burial Service (Forecourt Of The State House)

Liturgical Service @ 9:00am Order Of Service

• Arrival of the Body @ 7:00am • Laying in State for Last Respect (Dignitaries & other Special Guests) • Hymn/Song — All Choirs - File Past • Tributes 1. Multimedia Group Ltd (JOY FM) 2. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 3. President of Ghana • Hymn/Song — Holy Spirit Cathedral Choir - File Past • Tributes 1. Family 2. Father (Prof. Ernest Koku Dumor) — CH 376 Take my life 3. Sister (Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh) 4. Brother (Dr. Korshie Dumor) • Hymn/Song — Winneba Youth Choir - File Past • Tributes 1. Children 2. Wife (Mrs. Kwansema Dumor) • Hymn/Song — Pax Romana Choir - File Past (FINAL) • Closing of Coffin — “Consolation” from SONGS WITHOUT WORDS (Felix Mendelssohn) by Man on the Sax Pastor Albert Asante

• Entrance Song — CH 328 Lead us Heavenly Father lead us • Introit — CH 224 Breathe on me Breath of God • Introductory Rites • Opening Prayer • 1st Reading — 1 Cor. 1: 26-31 • Responsorial Psalm — CH 34 • Gospel — Luke 12:35-40 • Reflection • Prayer of the Faithful (Intentions) a) For the wife and Children b) For the siblings c) For the father d) For the Youth of Ghana e) For the staff of BBC & Joy FM f) For all Departed Souls • Offering — Medleys • Biography • Widowhood Rites • Announcements • Final Commendation

• 1. 2. 3.

CHOIRS IN ATTENDANCE Holy Spirit Cathedral Parish Choir Pax Romana Choir (University of Ghana, Legon) Winneba Youth Choir

PART THREE

Funeral Rites, Refreshment for Special Guests and Donations PART FOUR

Private Burial (Rites at the Grave side)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2014 • •

Thanksgiving Mass at The Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka at 9:00am Family meets at Home with Friends (private)

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Hymns CH 376 1. Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord to thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 2. Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be, Swift and beautiful for thee. 3. Take my voice, and let me sing Always, only, for my King; Take my lips, and let them be, Filled with messages from thee. 4. Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold, Take my intellect, and use, Every power as thou shalt choose. 5. Take my will, and make it thine: It shall be no longer mine, Take my heart; it is thine own: It shall be thy royal throne. 6. Take my love; my Lord I pour, At thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be, Ever, only, all for thee. CH 34 Antiphon: My soul is longing for your peace, Near to you, my God 1. Lord, you know that my heart is not proud, And my eyes are not lifted from the earth. 2. L  ofty thoughts have never filled my mind, Far beyond my sight all ambitious deeds. 3. In your peace I have maintained my soul, I have kept my heart in your quiet peace.

CH 328 1. Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, Through the World’s tempestuous sea; Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, For we have no help but you; Yet possessing every blessing, If our God our Father be. 2. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us; All our weakness you do know, You did tread this earth before us, You did feel its keenest woe; Lone and dreary, faint and weary Through the desert you did go. 3. Spirit of our God, descending, Fill our hearts with heavenly joy, Love with every passion blending, Pleasures that can never cloy: Thus provided, pardoned, guided, Nothing can our peace destroy. CH 224 1. Breathe on me, Breath of God, Fill me with anew, That I may love what thou dost love, And do what thou wouldst do. 2. Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure: Until with thee, I have one will, To do and to endure. 3. Breathe on me, Breath of God, Till I am wholly thine, Until this earthly part of me, Glows with thy fire divine. 4. Breathe on me, Breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with thee the perfect life, Of thine eternity.

4. As a child rests on his mother’s knee, So I place my soul in your loving care. 5. Israel, put all your hope in God, Place your trust in him, now and evermore. CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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Celebrating Komla Afeke Dumor

BIOGRAPHY

The Heritage Komla Afeke (The Root of the Family) Dumor was born into a family of recognized educationists. His paternal grandfather, Michael Dumor, was a pioneer in the Catholic education project in the Volta Region beginning from the 1930’s. His maternal grandfather, Philip Gbeho, the indomitable music master of Achimota School, was the composer of the National Anthem of Ghana. This was a tradition that emphasized the value of education, a drive for knowledge, the pursuit of excellence and service to ones country. Komla was born on 3rd October 1972 to Prof Ernest Dumor a highly respected academic and a public servant and Cecilia Dumor (née Gbeho) an educationist, curriculum expert, and an editor of international repute. Komla’s parents taught him the value of sacrifice and love for country through their own professional work. His father was responsible for the building of the Ghana National Identification Systems and the regulatory National Identification Authority established to manage the system. Any child in Ghana who has been to secondary school in the last 25 years, has been touched by Komla’s mother. She almost single - handedly supervised the production and edited 50 textbooks even though she was then chronically ill with rheumatoid arthritis. Komla was born into a Roman Catholic family and was brought up according to the teachings of the Catholic Church particularly as to the sanctity of family and marriage. He was nurtured to internalize basic Christian virtues of humility, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and temperance. He lived these virtues in his family and professional life. He was strong and firmly grounded in his Christian walk and he would say ever so often that whatever GOD had endowed him with must be shared. The above is just part of the kaleidoscope of Komla’s heritage. However, Komla was taught not to bask in the achievements of his grandparents, parents and recognized family members, but to carve a niche for himself by applying creatively the gift of heritage. As a result of these influences, Komla through his own passion for good, justice and fair play, and a concern for the poor and disadvantaged, evolved into a masterpiece of GOD, cherished CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

and loved by his family and friends and admired as “The Boss Player” in his professional life.

Early life and education Komla grew up on the campus of the University of Cape Coast and, at three and half years, he insisted on joining his sister to attend the pre- school program offered at the University Primary School. In 1975, when his parents left for the United States of America, he began his formal education from the K-I run by the United Methodist Church. He was admitted into the Spartan Village School where he began his real educational journey. In 1979, Komla and his older sister joined their father in the Tacoma –Seattle Area in the State of Washington. He was enrolled in Wildwood Park Elementary School in Puyallup and then Daffodil Valley Elementary School a year later. The years with his father created a very intense bond between them. But those years remained significant in Komla’s early life because as a black African child in a racially polarized environment, he came face to face with a much more concealed yet dangerous form of racial discrimination. At that tender age Komla had to rely on the support of his parents to deal with this widespread problem in the American school system. With the right encouragement and family support, Komla dealt with the racial obstacles by working extra hard on his school assignments. He was made to cultivate the habit of reading and spent quite a lot of his leisure time with his nose in a book. He read books that told the story of slavery in America and the profiles of great African American Achievers noting clearly how they got to the top in the face of extreme difficulties. Komla realized very early that these achievers got to the top by pursuing a disciplined life, excellence and a hunger for knowledge and perseverance. When Komla reached the fifth grade in Daffodil Valley Elementary School, he offered to participate in the inter-schools district spelling bee competition. His class teacher at the time who stereotypically thought Komla was only fit for sports, dismissed him by a simple wave of the hand. His parents protested and the school allowed him to contest. Komla confounded everyone by reaching the finals and finally becoming the first 7

runner-up. Komla had set the stage for himself and his family in the Sumner Community where this African family was constantly on the invitation list to potluck lunches and dinners. In the Sumner Community, Komla was also the star footballer on the only football team – The Kicks. He came home with a lot of trophies awarded to him. He was equally the star athlete. With the help of his mother, Komla learnt to play the piano and soon became a star performer in his school of western classical music. To widen the intellectual horizons of Komla and his siblings, the parents organized educational tours which took the family to Canada, states in the Great Lakes Region of the United States, a journey from the Pacific Northwest all the way to Eastern Seaboard. These were great opportunities that allowed him and his siblings to have their imaginations run wild and stimulated them to always consider greater possibilities. In 1983 Komla’s parents left the United States of America for Kano State Nigeria. Much to the anguish of himself and his siblings, Komla had no choice but to relocate too. On arrival, Komla’s parents realized that his intellectual growth needed to be nurtured differently rather than place him immediately in the Kano State School System. He and his brother were, therefore, put into a personalized program run by a lady from India called Mrs Satur. It was a driven program meant to draw out of the children as much of their academic potential as possible and set them on a course for excellence. In this period the parents took a decision not to have television at home, a sore point initially for the children but later in life a decision that they would always concede was the best thing for them at that stage of their lives. In 1984, Komla was admitted into St Thomas Secondary School in Kano and placed in Form Two. He went through the prescribed academic program successfully graduating at the top of his class. He took the Nigerian Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination for admission to any of the Nigerian Universities at the time. The results of the examination placed Komla in the band of students who could be admitted to start a pre-medical program. He was only 16 years old. It was an extremely hard decision for Komla’s parents to see him leave home so young and at such an impressionable age. It was hard for Komla himself but with his sister in the same institution, he launched into his tertiary educational journey. So it was, Komla entered the University of Jos in Plateau State Nigeria. After four years of the pre-clinical studies, Komla abandoned the program and returned to Ghana. On his return home Komla indicated to his parents that he

wanted to pursue a law degree and then specialize in forensic science. The parents thought the idea was great but switching from a science-based program to an Arts program was going to be fraught with dangers. The University authorities recommended that Komla would be on solid grounds if he would take a degree in the Arts or the Social Sciences. Without hesitation he agreed and entered a program in Sociology/Psychology at University of Ghana for a Bachelor’s degree.

Broadcast Career

Komla at the Multimedia Group/JOYFM

In his first year in the University of Ghana, his sister drew his attention to an advert in the newspapers requesting applicants for a position on air as a traffic reporter for the fledgling station Joy FM. The show and the interview were held at the office of the program sponsor, Mobitel, a telecom provider. Komla showed up at the interview to find hundreds of people waiting for the same position he had come to interview for. A friend took him to the interview room, where Komla told them to stop the interview and send everyone else home. He was the man they wanted. They liked his smile and his confidence. He got the job. Little did they know that for National Service he had worked on Radio at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation a year earlier doing an early morning program called “Every Day English”. His new broadcast career thus took off on the back of a motor scooter riding around Accra at 4 am every morning giving reports on traffic in the capital. Soon thereafter, Komla was noticed by the management as an individual not only with a voice for radio but very much in control of the English Language and very well informed on issues of public policy. This was essentially the bridge on which Komla walked into the position of Presenter of the Joy FM Super Morning Show.

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Komla’s place as the driver in the emerging market of private radio and its transforming power in support of democratic practice and its ethos will remain legendary. He handled every aspect of the program with consummate professionalism. He took on major national development issues that many of his colleagues felt afraid to handle. His engaging personality confidence and passion for evidence, setting the contours for public debate endeared him to many Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliation. Komla found the Super Morning Show as the biggest and the best platform to fight the cause of the ordinary people of the country whose poverty touched him deeply. Komla’s investigative skills led to the exposure of corruption which he regarded as wholly unacceptable. He was prepared to pay the price and his appearance at the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice will remain a point of reference in investigative journalism. For the many things he had done, the Ghana Journalists Association nominated him as the Journalist of the year 2003. This award was the occasion for some to declare resolutely that he was not a journalist. As Komla himself, in an assessment of this period in his career, would tell his parents “Ignorance is blissful but, painfully, many people suffer as a result of it”.

Komla at the Kennedy School of Government—Harvard

Komla was always hungry for knowledge. Therefore he took the opportunity to enter the prestigious Kennedy School at Harvard University to study for a Master’s Degree in Public Policy. In a letter Komla wrote to his parents he stated the following ‘The academic program has been rigorous and intense. But I have coped very well. I have generally topped my class in most cases and developed some really good relationships with some CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Professors. Last week alone I got back four (4) papers and the worst grade was A- which is quite remarkable considering the fact that Harvard uses the forced grading curve system’. Komla graduated at the top of his graduating class and eloquently delivered the Valedictorian address for the class. Soon after his graduation he was offered a position at Brown University in the Africa Leadership Program. This was a program established by the University to allow former Heads of State in Africa to spend a year reflecting and writing their memoirs. Before he could accept the offer Kwasi Twum the CEO of JOY FM arrived in Boston to plead with Komla to return home to take back the Super Morning Show. Komla returned and rebuilt the morning program and raised the bar even further.

Komla at BBC – From Ghana to the World’s Newsroom The work of Komla attracted the attention of the management of BBC, particularly its African Service, whilst he was still working at Joy FM.

At the Initial stages, the BBC sent him to Uganda to develop and present some burning issues in Uganda’s development. Thereafter, he was involved in presenting a special programme covering the migration of young African males through the Sahara into Spain. This programme was very well received. In 2006 Komla was officially invited to join the BBC African Service in London as host of the radio programme Network Africa. From 2008 to 2012 he was one of the presenters for the BBC flagship programme, “The World Today”. Because of Komla’s special interest of the experiences of 9

Africans in the Diaspora, he was at home when he presented a special programme on slavery and its abolition in the UK. Through dint of hard work, Komla began an ascent into the elite class of radio and television presenters, not only at BBC, but worldwide. With this opportunity, Komla saw an avenue to help bring Africa into the mainstream of the global news system. He felt, like many Africans, that the continent had been written out of history and therefore it was necessary to use that platform to create a more accurate picture of the huge potential of Africa. As destiny would have it, in 2011, Komla began his new role on BBC Television and soon became an instant celebrity newscaster. It did not take very long for the BBC to realise his passion for the transformation of Africa. Consequently, the management of BBC Television decided to develop a programme that focused on Business, Trade and Development in Africa. He became the main anchor for the internationally acclaimed programme ‘Africa Business Report’ on BBC World Television. In pioneering the launch of Africa Business Report, he set out to challenge the stereotypic view of Africa. He was very passionate about telling the story of a continent that was rapidly changing and taking its rightful place in the world. Komla endeared himself to his audiences because of his own unique style of presentation. Indeed, Komla raised the bar of broadcast journalism particularly in his presentation of the new programme, ‘Focus on Africa’. Komla soon became the face and the voice of Africa Rising. He had become the international Ambassador of the continent. He did not seek to glorify Africa in his Africa Business Report and Focus on Africa. He maintained a balance in his presentation. He was always prepared to dig deeper, only seeking the truth. He presented, when the opportunity came, the uneven

and unequal distribution of resources within those countries. As he would say, “there must be balance” or “please, don’t patronise me”. He was not just simply a ‘broadcast journalist’ but an intellectual with great analytical skills. BBC Television offered Komla a platform to showcase his varied skills. Komla was amongst a selected few who constituted the core team that covered the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Canterbury 2011, the Olympic Games held in London 2012, and the World Cup in South Africa 2010, to name a few. Komla’s work at BBC Television was not limited to just news presentation - he had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s richest people: Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Mo Ibrahim. In addition, he interviewed very highly placed world leaders; these include Bill Clinton, President Kagame, President John Dramani Mahama and Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, and covered President Barrack Obama’s recent trip to Africa. The famed author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was also among people he interviewed. The high point in all this was his towering presence in South Africa during the funeral of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa. He brought home to Africans and the world at large the place of Nelson Mandela in World History, and was able to draw out the family of Nelson Mandela to share their moments of life with this African Icon and their passion for a new hope for Africa. These interviews with the Mandela family will remain a special tribute to Komla himself. In his short life he also became the icon who took history in his hands and strove for his country and continent so that the world might see what is good. In a list published in New African magazine (December 2013) he was named as one of the 100 most influential Africans of

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the year 2013, with the citation: “It has been a coming of age for Komla Dumor this year. The presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s flagship and first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News, has established himself as one of the emerging African faces of global broadcasting. As a lead presenter for BBC World, Komla has considerable influence on how the continent is covered.”

Personal life

In 2001 Komla married Kwansema Quansah with whom he had three children Elinam Makafui (God has always been there for me, Praise him) 11years old, Elorm Efadzinam (God loves me, he comforts my heart) 9 years old, and Emefa Araba (I am at peace) 3 years old. His love and devotion to his three children was his greatest mission and he often said that of all the professional and personal nicknames he had, the name he most loved to be referred to was “Daddy” by his three kids. He loved good clothes and good food, loved to laugh and loved to tease. But beyond all the glitter he was just an ordinary, simple, and caring person.

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Death Komla Dumor died on 18 January 2014 in his London home, having been on air the day before. How sad that a leading light of African journalism, determined to tell the true story of Africa, has left us so suddenly? But we’re consoled that his legacy will remain. We are grateful to all those who are here today to pay their last respect to this young and outstanding human being May his soul rest in perfect peace.

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Tribute By Mrs. Kwansema Dumor (WIDOW)

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“Through all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still My heart and tongue employ”

Eighteen years ago, I met a remarkable young man who was intelligent, knowledgeable, confident, eloquent and charming. His name was Komla Dumor. He became the love of my life and one of the best gifts God gave me. It was the Lord who brought us together and He preserved our union till the end. I met Komla when we were both students at the University of Ghana, Legon. The first time I interacted with him was at a Sociology group discussion and Komla absolutely blew me away with his knowledge and eloquence. I sat and listened to him in awe. In the end, I felt so intimidated that I decided not to participate in any study group he was involved in. And yet over time, Komla drew me in and gradually won me over. He wooed me with his baritone, velvety voice; he mesmerized me with his cool gait and air of supreme confidence; he continually made me shake with laughter with his great sense of humour and wit. But above all, Komla won me over with his intellect and his dream to pursue an extraordinary life. With his words he painted for me a vision of the future that sounded so glorious, so exciting and fulfilling that I yielded and eventually vowed to him, ‘till death do us part.’ We began dating before he embarked on his brilliant career as a journalist, but even then I knew Komla was special and would attain great heights. Some of my friends at the time asked, “Kwansema, what do CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

you see in this student boyfriend of yours that you chose him over others who appear to have already made it“? And I would say, “Besides the fact that I’m in love with him, Komla is deep. He has something the others don’t have. I believe Komla has the potential to do great things.” And wow, did he deliver, even beyond my wildest dreams! Just a few months ago I said to him, “Dear, do you know what is even better than lying in the arms of a man you love who is your husband?” He asked, “What?” I replied, “When that man is Komla Dumor.” Oh, I knew what I had! I knew I had a husband who had chalked such immense success that people the world over admired him. I also knew that I was in a position many women coveted. It was a privilege to be a part of his life. The children and I were so proud of his many accomplishments and we basked in the global recognition he received. Indeed, Komla was a good and loving husband and companion to me and a wonderful father to our children, Elinam, Elorm and Araba. In his unselfish way, he encouraged and supported me to pursue graduate study at Harvard as he had done. As he was so much in the limelight, I remained less visible in order to preserve some privacy and normalcy for the family. He was such a great presence in our lives and my heart aches for my loss and for my children, who have lost a fantastic and devoted father. 13

Saturday, January 18th 2014 started like a normal Saturday for us. A day the children and I could shut the world out and have Komla to ourselves. A day when he was simply Daddy and my husband. But now that day marks the beginning of a painful and aching void that we still cannot come to terms with. How can Komla be gone? How can he be forever silent? How can he not come walking through the door of our home in the evenings when the kids and I would trip over ourselves to be the first to hug him? How? And yet that morning when I woke up, my prayer was this: “I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge Him and He will direct my paths. Lord, I commit my husband and my children into Your hands this day.” So now I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip, He who watches over me will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is my shade at my right hand; the sun will not smite me by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep my children and I from harm, the Lord will watch over our lives and our coming and going, both now and forevermore.

miss our family trips and the jokes and stories you told as we went, in a manner that only you could. We will miss the special family times on Sundays when you made Daddy’s special stir fry and insisted we all sit down at table and use our best dinner plates. It will never never be the same without you. I will carry with me forever precious and many lovely memories of our journey together, through Harvard at Peabody Terrace, to Ghana and then to the United Kingdom. Thank you for all you did to make the world a better place for us. We love you and miss you terribly. My only consolation now is that you are with the Lord. Till we meet again, Komla, my love, rest in perfect peace.

Your wife, Kwan

Komla, I will miss your voice. I will miss that well of wisdom and knowledge that the children and I continually drew on. I will

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Tribute By Children TRIBUTE TO OUR DADDY

Dear Daddy, You have been a wonderful father to us and we love and miss you. We remember the times you told us stories at bedtime and when you used to make your delicious stir fries and meals for us especially on Sundays. We remember when you would walk us to our piano lessons and sit and wait for us and walk us back home. We also remember when we went with you to Elorm’s football matches and you stood there on the sidelines even in winter – encouraging him, and calling out to him to do his best. We loved rushing downstairs in the mornings to switch on the TV and see you presenting the news with your broad grin. We fondly remember the family trips when you told us jokes and funny stories in the car that made us laugh and laugh. We loved it when you came back from your travels from different countries and showed us interesting pictures and told us about the things you saw. You promised you would take us to all the countries you had visited and share your experiences with us. We will always remember our birthdays with you, when you and mummy would bring us breakfast in bed and pray with us and advise us. You always had answers to our questions and we marvelled at how you knew so much! You always encouraged us to dream big, not to be “mediocre” and to strive to be excellent at whatever we chose to do. We will make you proud. Daddy, rest in peace with God, and we hope to see you again in heaven one day. Love always, Elinam, Elorm and Araba

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Tribute By Professor Ernest Dumor FROM: DADDY , TO KOMLA: MY GIFT OF LOVE.

Komla, I am led to this simple but very profound verse in the Scriptures ‘Teach me your ways and I will walk in your truth’. Yes indeed Komla you strove in your short life to walk in his truth. Therefore no amount of words or pontification on my part as your father, can change what you have become. Your achievements are inalterable facts My words cannot increase the inmeasurable impact you have made by touching the lives of so many especially the voiceless and those who have been written out of history. Komla you were a gift to me and your dear mother Cecilia. By His Grace, loving kindness and compassion we nurtured this gift. You became the priceless gift to our community to our country to Africa and the rest of the world. In your professional work as a broadcast journalist or are you not a journalist, it was almost as if you were repeating to yourself all the time the famous line of the Roman lyrical poet Horace Odes “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori—it is right and fitting to die for ones country”. And you did. That is why so many people from all walks of life have come to pay their respects. Komla you are the legacy. I am so ever grateful to the Almighty God for your life. What else can I say or do but to go on my knees to say I confess my faith in you, Lord through praise and worship. You brought honor dignity and indeed a feeling of fulfillment to us. You gave full expression to the basic core values which we cherished as a family —discipline, hard work, a zeal for knowledge, self-giving, self denial, self –abnegation, self –cultivation, and personal integrity. Because you had an abiding faith in these values God showed you his compassion and allowed you to break the barriers to the chagrin of the detractors. I am very profoundly proud of you. As I reflect on your life I feel so convinced that somewhere along your life’s journey Blessed Mother Theresa was whispering in your ears the following;

• God doesn’t require us to succeed; He only requires us to try. • I alone cannot change the world but I can cast the stone across the waters and create many ripples. • I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask How many good things have you done in your life? Rather he will ask, How much love did you put into what you did. • I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wished he did not trust me so much • If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. Komla your journey was a journey in faith and in our despair and afflictions as a family you helped all of us to experience the shining moments of faith. Komla you have become an icon for many, a gem for many more . But for me, your sister Mawuena and your brother Korshie you will forever be the root of the home your mother created for all of us Komla Afelike (Du wo fe mo) Dumor , we as a family faced so much pain , so much suffering. Yet we also shared the joy of life. Now you have a new life because God has called to your rest. Komla , ‘ you surely shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you. When he hears he will answer you’ (Isaiah 30:1926) Yes indeed you have sown in tears and He has indeed called you to come back full of song. (Ref: Psalm 129) Agbofoati Zonyra Thank you for every moment we shared together. I have loved you and I will always love and cherish you. Rest in Perfect Peace.

• A life not lived for others is not life. • Each one of them is Jesus in disguise. CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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Tribute From Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh For Komla from Mawuena - I am thankful to GOD for you. My dearly beloved brother Komla, It is well and I am thankful to GOD for you. It is my prayer that this letter finds you at peace resting in GOD’s glorious presence, joyful about life in a higher realm. It has been such a struggle to put pen to paper attempting to write a tribute to you. Where would I even begin? Having been only a year and a few months older than you, I know you will recall the joys of the unique and special childhood we had by divine providence in being nurtured by two truly wonderful parents. I look back on our growing years in humble beginnings in the US as our parents made great sacrifices to give us the academic and social experiences that would shape who GOD has allowed us to become in adulthood. Later joined by Korshie, all three of us bound together in an everlasting bond through our collective experiences as siblings from our youth. I remember with nostalgia happy playtime scenes as very young children on Cape Coast University campus, with you and I getting sick after eating too many bananas or being reprimanded for attempting to use our new baby brother, Korshie, to taste-test meals before we would agree to eat! You often teased me about taking my big sister duties a bit too far since I had gained a reputation for being the “Mohammed Ali” to be avoided in our neighborhood should I discover anyone picking on my brothers! But Komla what could I have done? Mammy and Daddy said all we have is each other. Indeed, as we progressed through tertiary academic experiences, your resolve to reciprocate my commitment to you grew as did your physical size and stature. So during our time together at the University of Jos in Nigeria you were constantly “monitoring” me to ensure no “sketchy guys” were buzzing around me. I want you to know today, that even though I was annoyed about your “monitoring”, deep down I was thankful for that third objective eye, looking out for my very best interest.

Everybody who knows us knows how much we mutually loved, admired and respected each other. I took pride in every single one of your personal and professional achievements and cried tears of joy many times when I would see you excel time and time again. I am now unable to watch television, read the newspapers or listen to the radio for fear of breaking down as yet another tribute about you is read. Don’t worry though. I am going to start working on that when I get out of stage one grief. But I remain so quietly proud of every single one of the achievements GOD blessed you with and I continue to see the evidence of your sacrifice in the unprecedented outpouring of love shown to us from literally every corner of the globe. I am thankful to GOD for you. Right up until January 17th 2014, our daily habit of “checking in on each other” via text message this time, had been completed with an agreement to touch base again the next day. Little did I know, that GOD had HIS master plan and that that was not to be. As GOD blessed you, Korshie and me with Elinam, Elorm, Eyram, Seenam, Keli, Katherine and Emefa, we have shared in the joy, excitement and trepidation of now having to instill the same values we grew up with in our children and do even better. Sharing with each other their progress was typically the subject of most of our daily discussions and I remain thankful for the gifts of those times to laugh, pray, cry and encourage each other in our hopes and aspirations for the future. Be assured that Daddy, Korshie and I will do our utmost to support Kwansema to pursue your true legacy which is those three precious and beautiful children- Elinam, Elorm and Emefa. You once said that every “David” needs a “Nathan” to walk this earth and that you were still seeking yours. I pray that you have finally encountered the ultimate “Nathan” who is Christ Jesus. You also said “Life is too short to be served up small portions!” It is my prayer that you are served up big portions at the table of GOD. I am really thankful to GOD for you. Now that you have taken the lead out of this physical world, continue to intercede with Mammy on our behalf. Komla, Afeke Dumor, my true friend, my cheerleader, my confidant, my brother. I love you dearly. I will miss your physical presence for the rest of my life. I am thankful for the deep bond we had which I will continue to strengthen with Korshie. I will share with your children what a giant of a man you were on earth and support them to rejoice in the knowledge of your spirit being always around us all. I thank GOD for all HE designed you to become in 41 years. I thank GOD for everything. We shall always remain “closer than close”. Love Always, Your sister Mawuena.

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Tribute From Dr. Korshie Dumor people at ease. You could make people feel as if you had been their friend for years. In an airport lounge, you would strike up a conversation with another transiting passenger and would while away the time until it was time to board. School for me was easy. I would arrive with ready-made credibility. I was Komla’s brother. No further introductions were required. People sometimes talk about how hard it is to be a junior in a secondary school. I had no idea what they were talking about. You always were a protected blazing path ahead of me that I would only have to walk through. Throughout our life, you never placed any pressure on me other than to be the best that I could be. You are honest and kind. You took delight in helping others. When there was a need for someone to lead, we would all naturally gravitate towards you. Everyone knew that you would be fair and often put your own needs behind those of others.

How do I tell the story? How can I compress all my feelings and thoughts about you into a passage? It is not possible but I will try. Komla, from the time I was brought home from the hospital, there had always been one constant in my life. It was you. Our entire childhood, we shared a bedroom together. I suppose like every younger brother I idolized my big brother. You represented what I could become. Older, wiser, faster and stronger. Unlike daddy, I could see myself as you in a few years. I model myself after you and you are the perfect model. You understood the responsibility of being an older brother to me and a younger brother to Mawuena. You always supported me in anything I did. Gently correcting me, guiding me with the wisdom you had acquired in the 2 1/2 years you had been on the earth before me. As kids, the family moved several times- six different homes by the time I was nine. The frequent moves meant we had to learn how to interact with new people and make new friends with ease. It also meant that the only friends I could be certain of keeping were you and my sister. It forged within us a strong and unbreakable bond. You always have a gift for putting CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

We would share our secrets, our hopes and our aspirations, what we wanted to do and how we would do it. Lying in our room late at night, you would tell me stories into the early hours of the morning until we both fell asleep invigorated by your dreams. You have a way of dreaming big but at the same time making it all seem very attainable. For all of your popularity, you remained well grounded. You would never trumpet your own success. For you, this was not the Dumor way. For someone who could entertain a crowd, you are a very quiet and reserved individual on a personal level. “A good day for me”, you once told me, “would be locked in a library all day long with enough food to keep me”. As your star rose, you remained true to yourself. We would be together and people would recognize you. We have never gotten over how funny you thought this was. People would stop you to argue over points that you have made on the air over a month ago. Not once did you refuse to speak to them. With a beaming smile, a big handshake or a warm embrace you with engage with them. It could be a president, it could be a petty trader, you treated everyone the same. You showed them love and respect and placed the value on them as an individual. You were authentic and people could feel this in you. Who you were in your public life was as cool as who you were in private. “Korshie what you do when no one is looking, when the cameras turn off, is what makes you who you really are.” 19

Tribute From Korshie Dumor

There are parts of you that few people knew. Starting your morning with a word of prayer, an uplifting verse. The call, or text message you would constantly send to encourage me and others. Your stories were always full of hope and a chance to edify. This was how you felt about Ghana and Africa. You loved your job and could not believe that the BBC would pay you to travel across the African continent doing what you would have gladly done for free. You have such great hopes for the African continent and the African century. For all that you did for all those who knew you, what concerned you most, what you were truly proudest of were your three children:

As in life, Komla you have gone ahead of me. Tell Mummy we say Hi. Let her know we are well, Let her know that together we achieved what we all thought was impossible - We got Daddy to throw away the khaki pants she hated so much! I am comforted by the knowledge that we will meet again. When I get to the gates of Heaven once again I will need no introduction, I will simply say “I am Komla’s brother.” You once said to me “Korshie, I don’t fear death, it comes to us all. I fear not making a difference.” You always had a spirit that was much older than your age. Perhaps, this is why you have left us so early. But rest in perfect peace big brother. You have made every difference in this world.

Elinam, your father talked about you always. When you would get distinctions in your schoolwork or performances, he would send us pictures of the certificates. Elorm, every goal you scored an football I would hear about. The time he spent with you and your siblings were when he was happiest. Araba, your every step, your laugh, the things that you said that made him smile, he was so proud to post online for all to see. The world has lost an African giant. But you, the children, have lost much more. He would gladly trade all his achievements just to see you fulfill your individual potentials. Rest assured that he watches over you and we are going to stand resolute with you. Your father was irreplaceable. Now here I stand for the first time in my life, I do not have you Komla to turn to. I have to forge my own path. This is unfamiliar ground. I still have you in my phone listed on my favorites list. I still grab up my phone thinking that there may be a text message from you. The pain I feel for you is deep, Komla. There is a hole in my soul that I struggle to fill. 20 CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Tribute From Auntie Eugenia (Auntie Bobo)

It was with great joy when my older brother Prof. Dumor called me that Komla took an appointment with BBC in London, and that I should expect him. A few days after his arrival in London, I picked him up to my house and we had a good time together with my family. We always exchanged visits till his family joined him from Ghana. Anytime Komla needed me and my husband we had always been there for him and the family. Anytime he saw me, he exclaimed with joy “Auntie Bobo”. One time he lifted me in the air when we visited him; that was how far he showed his love to me. He often called to find out how I was doing and I did the same.

would surely continue your hard work. I love you, but the Almighty God loves you more! Sleep well. When the trumpets sound, we shall meet each other with joy and praise our Maker till eternity. God keep you, and rest in perfect peace.

Mrs. Eugenia Dumor-Nunoo (Auntie Bobo) London

At the outdooring of Emefa, Komla was at his best in his apron doing the barbeque. He called, “Auntie Bobo”, come closer, and we gossiped about big sister Mawuena and his great father Prof Dumor. We couldn’t help laughing at his “TOLI”. We met at St George’s Hospital in Tooting to visit his sick uncle who had been admitted there early January this year. He was so concerned about his uncle that he spent almost two hours with him at the hospital. Before we parted, he gave me his usual big hug and he held me longer than necessary, and thanked me for being there for them. We promised to meet again at the hospital on 18 January, and when I got the call from his wife, Kwansema, I thought it was in connection wjth his visit to the uncle at the hospital. But lo and behold, it was an urgent call for me to come to their home immediately. We managed and drove the distance to his home only to see my son so cold in silence. “Komla, Komla”, I shook his body and called out to him, but still no response. Komla was sleeping! It was a sleep without return! I’m broken and torn into pieces because he never said a word to me. He would never leave my heart. Komla, Auntie Bobo says “AYEKOO”. I’m proud of you because you touched many lives. Your children assured us that they CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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Tribute From Your Cousins

ENYO, KOFI, ELSIE, BESSA, NII AHENE,

Letter From Auntie Vivian

WISDOM, KELVIN, KENNETH Our eyes were filled up with tears as we received the news, could this really be true? This was what we kept asking and wishing it wasn’t real. We laid in our beds and cried at night, hoping the morning will be better but this was never to be. The thought of it brings so much pain to us. As young adults, we thought we will see our parents age gracefully and hand over the baton to us as we mature. Unfortunately some of them passed on, but we still dreamt and hoped that we will have each other around for a long time and see our own children grow and our dreams actualize. Now we stand here today bidding you farewell. In recent times, we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together due to your travels and our own challenging schedules but there was the family spirit when we did and you encouraged us to make sacrifices for our kids and get them to places we have never been. We want to believe that even though you are no more with us the values and principles you stood for will remain with us forever in our hearts. Komla, we love you and will forever miss your beautiful smile and the bear hugs you gave us whenever we met. Though we mourn, we do not weep like those without hope, for the good Lord knows why you have gone before us. We will therefore bid you farewell with the Christian’s good-night and will be strong for our nieces and nephew. Rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord till we meet again. Dzidzor le nutifafa me.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. —1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV) In your early days as the host of the Joy FM morning show, your smooth and silky voice would brighten my morning. I looked forward to your thought- provoking interviews, your wide range and excellent choice of music as well as your witty and humorous comments. I would always catch myself bursting into laughter and would rhetorically ask my children in the car “whose son is this”. Listening to Joy FM became a part of me largely because of you and I must admit my interest began to dwindle after you left the station. Though I was very happy about the news of you joining BBC and being ecstatic whenever you appeared on TV; I still could not help switching from Joy FM for a while. It was not surprising that you became my son later on in life. I believe that fate brought you into my life. Komla, you had a way of making everyone feel special, you would ask of people and things that meant a lot to me to show that I meant a lot to you. Your brain I found to be a well -oiled machine. You could have amazing conversations about anything and everything and after any conversation with you I would walk away marvelled and full of admiration. Auntie VI will miss you. Who will serve us a glass of wine with our grills? Who would humble themselves to clear the table after dinner when there are hired hands to do that. Who would give me that bear embrace and tease me about being petite by whispering into my ears? Komla, you have left a void in all of our hearts that cannot be filled. Being big and strong on the outside but soft and caring on the inside. Komla, rest in the bosom of the Almighty God. You have run well the race that was set before you and you will remain always in the hearts of all your family, friends and millions of fans all around the globe. Till we meet again my dear son, REST IN PEACE!

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Tribute By President John Dramani Mahama FOR THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

I believe I am right to state that no single Ghanaian has risen so fast, so far, and so favourably in international broadcasting as Komla Dumor did.

ple proof that perseverance pays! He made Ghanaians – and non-Ghanaians – feel a deep sense of pride watching him on the BBC.

Komla Afeke Dumor proved himself to be a real trailblazer, a role model and a source of admiration, as well as inspiration, for millions around the world.

Komla grew into a giant who did not forget his roots among the so-called “little” people. He was a connector, who managed through his work to link princes with paupers and got kings to speak to ordinary folks.

His rise, from the back of a motorbike, serving as a traffic reporter for Ghana’s Joy-FM Radio, to the lofty heights of being one of the lead presenters of BBC TV and Radio in the UK, has been truly remarkable. Not only did Komla shatter the professional ceiling at the BBC through his dedicated professional attitude, and thereby opened doors for many journalists, broadcasters and professionals, but he also proved that you can push yourself to excel so well in a local job that your performance is easily recognised and deemed fit and best for the world. Komla’s unique style of broadcast presentation and his highly professional approach made him shine like a bright star within a galaxy. His confident manner, incisive questioning and disarming presence helped to take his ratings to admirable heights. Komla leaves us with some true life lessons that, even when life gives you lemons, you can still find a humble and enduring way to turn these lemons into lemonade. He suffered failure but did not allow failure to define him. With a level of humility and gratitude, he recalled how he failed his medical school exams in the fourth year in Nigeria – where his professor dad was lecturing - and had to abandon his plans to become a doctor.

To many people, especially the youth, Komla represented a contemporary example of the rewards that can follow hard work, dedication and the pursuit of excellence. His successes and achievements are what our youth require in our quest to lift our dear nation and indeed Africa onto a higher level of socio-economic achievement. Komla was a true son of Africa, who easily submerged his Ghanaian identity into the unifying sea of gracious and common humanity, so that millions around the world – Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians, Africans and non-Africans, Black or White could claim him as one of their own. Indeed, Komla’s stature transcended nationality, race and continents. We must thank Almighty God for the gift of Komla. We thank Komla’s family for allowing him to be shared with the whole world. Even though he left us at the young age of 41, his legacy remains worthy of emulation. Komla Dumor will not be easily forgotten. We will celebrate his life, his achievements and his legacy.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

“People expect you to be good, talented or hardworking - or dribble a football (which I can’t do), because our reputation precedes us,” Komla said. “When I flunked out of medical school in Nigeria one of my professors (a Nigerian) said to me in shock. ‘You’re not supposed to fail, man! You’re a Ghanaian!’ I guess I let the nation down that time.” But he rose from the ashes of failure and disappointment, dusted himself off, and bounced back on a new road that made him a star achiever in the world of international broadcast journalism. He radiated hope and integrity and provided amCELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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Tributes from Around the World

Kofi Annan

Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. Komla is truly one of Africa’s brightest stars that just got extinguished. He will greatly be missed.

With Komla Dumor’s sudden and tragic death, Africa has lost one of its brightest young talents. Komla was an inspirational journalist, always determined to find the facts and report on the truth. I shall miss his smile and wonderful sense of humour. May his soul rest in peace.

Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa

Aliko Dangote

I am very pained. Komla was exceptional and a good friend of the ECA.

My heartfelt condolence to the family of BBC’s Komla Dumor. A great African & an intelligent Presenter / Reporter. May his soul rest in peace.

Bill and Melinda Gates Bill and I are saddened by the death of BBC’s Komla Dumor. His work of bringing the stories of Africa to the rest of the world will be missed.

Mo Ibrahim I just couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. It is most untimely. We have lost an invaluable African talent.

Makaziwe Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s daughter) Here was truly a shining star of Africa…a beacon of Africa’s warm and sunshine. Komla was Africa in every essence. I think wherever Komla is now he is smiling because he left a mark on this world. I think he has joined other great spirits, my father… We should be glad that they came into our lives, even for a short while.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma African Union Commission Chairperson Komla was evidently one of Africa’s finest broadcast journalists. Whether with “Focus on Africa, or “Africa Business Report”, he treated burning continental issues with a light-hearted flair, and yet a critical approach that incarnated a true spirit of

Carlos Lopes

Mr. Dumor had confirmed his role as a key facilitator at the Seventh Joint AU Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to be held on 27 March to 1 April 2014 in Abuja, Nigeria on the theme, Industrialization for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in Africa. Komla Dumor possessed boundless joy, energy and a big enthusiasm over Africa’s narrative; he left us so soon, said Lopes and added: He was a world class act who raised high Africa’s flag on the international stage and worked hard to shift the one-sided narrative on Africa. Arguably Africa’s favorite BBC presenter, Mr. Dumor was a regular facilitator at ECA major events where his personality, brilliance and depth of understanding fired up debates on Africa’s transformation. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues that he left behind.

Dr. Eugene Owusu UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative & UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Komla Dumor represented the finest in everything that is truly Ghanaian --- hardworking, intelligent, affable, a deep love for his country, a passion for political discourse and social justice, and entrepreneurial. With these attributes, his persona and sharp brains, his meteoric rise at BBC came as no surprise to those of us who knew him well. Komla’s life and achievements were an inspiration to many Ghanaians and Africans. Komla was a man destined for greatness. He left this world too soon for his dreams to come to fruition.

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Tributes from Around the World

Our hearts are heavy with sadness and deep sorrow. Death is always a painful loss, but some deaths are cruel! Death has robbed us of a talent, a gentleman, a budding statesman, an exceptional human being, a patriot, a consummate professional, a pan-Africanist, and a quintessential broadcaster. Death has robbed us of an illustrious son of Africa. Komla was a true ‘Ambassador’ of Ghana and Africa to the World.

Pravin Gordhan

Ombeni Sefue,

Chimamanda Adichie

South Africa’s Minister of Finance His insightful commitment to convey to the rest of the world the heart of Africa was always noteworthy. I have valued and appreciated the interaction I had with Komla over the years and I will miss him..

Chief Secretary to Tanzania’s President

Nigerian Author

For us Africans, we feel very proud when news about Africa are conveyed by an African... and Mr Komla Dumor did an excellent job. There is no doubt he got that job not because he was an African, but because he was highly qualified. Therefore he brought great honour to Africa... This is a great loss to us all in Africa. Ombeni Sefue, Chief Secretary to Tanzania’s President.

Komla swept into the world, stylish and sure, with his big chuckle, the light in his eyes, a genuine goodwill for people, a familiarity with laughter. He had no false modesty, yet an endearing insecurity lurked beneath his flair-filled confidence. He had, too, something close to innocence, a wonderful capacity for wonder. And now he is gone. We have lost a star..

CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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Tribute To Komla Dumor A YOUNG ACCOMPLISHED SOUL

OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN, OKYENHENE I join the Ghanaian people and the members of the journalist fraternity to commemorate the life of one of the greatest young Africans of our time. Ghana has lost many of her heroes but the demise of Komla Dumor represents a shocking waste of a patriotic and vibrant life which will be felt by the Ghanaian people and the African continent for many years to come.

• Did he love his family?

My admiration for this young man developed out of his insistence on civil discourse and responsible commentary in the media.

• Did he stand up for the right of others against the undesirable influence of treats and enemies?

On a few occasions when sensitive matters on chieftaincy, environment, education and child care were put under the national radar, Komla Dumor, would humbly walk into my Adabraka Palace to seek counsel so as to inform and guide his numerous audiences. With time, recognition of our congruity of interest made our relationship blossom and extended to his family. Times without number Professor Dumor and I spoke on issues of national interest. Komla’s professional progression to the BBC World Service brought out the best qualities of his character, hard work, courage, an indomitable will, rugged determination to succeed and a fiery ambition. On his maiden appearance on BBC World Service TV, I was prompted one evening by Professor Dumor to watch his darling son. The authority and grace Komla exuded, coupled with the richness of his voice were unmistakeable and enough to capture one’s immediate attention and my pride.

• Did he utilise his talents, those gifts at birth, so endowed to him by his maker? • Did he develop a burning desire that is required of all achievers?

• Did he forgive and forget those who may have harmed him? • Did he love his fellow human being with no regard to race, creed, ethnicity etc? • Did he share himself with others without expecting reward or payment in return…? All will agree that the answers to the above will be in the affirmative. Komla did all that and more, the journey finally ends in Heaven. On behalf of the Chiefs and people of Okyeman, and on my own behalf and my family, I wish to express my deepest condolence to his wife, children and the remarkable Dumor family (Dad, Mawuena, Korshie) for this irredeemable loss. Rest in perfect peace my dear Komla.

We sweat and labour to find our place, we take ourselves so seriously, over reacting to the insignificant events of each passing day. Then, finally, even for Komla, his brilliant short life will fade into history and his life will be summarised in 20-minute speeches and tributes, like mine, and a moment of silence. Sometimes you wonder if it is all worth it. But when the moment comes as it has for Komla, what will be said about him? • How will others describe his moments on earth? • Did he give it his all? 26 CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Tributes From Speaker Of Parliament, Ministers And Other State Officials Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho

Hon. Mahama Ayariga

Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana

Minister for Information & Media Relations)

I am completely lost for words, indeed it is difficult to believe that Komla has passed on. Enough tributes have been paid you and I share all the sentiments expressed about you Komla for the Forty-One years that you lived on earth. You are a good man and no evil will happen to you even in death. What a loss of such an icon, may his soul rest in perfect peace until we meet again.

After hearing your voice on radio I first met you in Legon in the company of my junior who became your wife. We met again in Harvard and I have followed keenly your progress as a great journalist. Your success has inspired many and it is a shock that you have departed so early. We will all miss you.

Hon. Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong Attorney General and Minister of Justice A famous Poet said ‘when a great man dies he leaves a light behind that for years, that lights up the path of men’. Komla, no words can describe our sorrow at your early demise. We take solace in the fact that you have left a light behind that will be followed by all men and women who aspire to greatness. Komla rest in perfect peace in the bossom of our Lord.

Hon. Dr. Omane- Boamah Minister of Communications A relatively short life (41yrs) Well lived! RIP Komla.

Hon. Nana Oye Lithur Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection What can we say? We have lost the trailblazer. We have lost a brother and friend who through his work at joy FM made human rights and women rights issues topical [readable] issues. He helped us promote gender equality. Today, God has called him to higher service and we say “thank you, Father”. Komla, rest in perfect peace.

Hon. Fiifi Kwetey MP, Ketu South & Minister of State What a massive shock. What a tremendous loss to Aflao, Ketu South, Ghana, Africa and the world. Gone so soon, nyebro. But there again, that might explain why you have experienced such a metoric rise and chalked such phenomenal feat so rapidly. Rest in perfect peace nyebro. A life well lived. An inspiration to all. CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Hon Benita Sena Okity-Duah Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Komla, am lost of words. It’s really a big loss to the family and Ghana as a whole. Africa has lost a great son. Komla you will really be missed by many. “V Boot” as we always called ourselves. You will be missed. May your sweet soul rest in the bossom of the Most High God. Till we meet again. My brother rest in peace.

Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations My brother why have you left us so early. Your death is a big lost to many people across the globe. For some of us who know you in person, we can’t but feel angry with death for not sparing you with its cruel hands. You have indeed inspired me and many of my colleagues. You were not just a national icon but a global one. We will forever miss you but we wouldn’t forget you in our prayers. My brother rest in peace.

Hon. Felix Kwakye-Ofosu (Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations) Komla your untimely demise is an excruciating blow to the nation, Africa and the world at large. You were a shinning example of excellence, commitment, integrity and passion for your chosen profession. You strove on and touched the lives of so many in ways that are difficult to clearly outline. We mourn your passing but are comforted by our knowledge that you made your mark in this world within the limited time that you had to live. May your gentle soul find solace in the Lord till we meet again. Komla Demrifa Due!

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Tributes From Speaker Of Parliament, Ministers And Other State Officials

More Tributes From Ghanaian Political Leaders

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto- Ablakwa

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor

Deputy Minister for Education, Ghana Great man, Great Accomplishments, Great Humility and Great Dexterity. Ghana and Africa will forever be proud of him.

Prosper Bani Chief of Staff to the President Komla Dumor is one of the vibrant and illustrious sons of Ghana. He is an excellent professional whose experience goes beyond Ghana. He is a stellar broadcaster without any comparison, he will be missed forever. May he rest in perfect peace

Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie Chief of Defence Staff, Ghana Komla, a media icon of the highest professional standard, you portrayed the values of Ghana and Africa to the admiration and respect of the world over. May we all learn from your short life on earth and all the high ideas that you stood for. May your gentle soul rest in Peace.

Dr. Michael Kpessa Whyte Office of the President, Ghana Komla it is hard to believe that you’ve depart this world. You left too soon but we are consoled by the legacy of your life and work. You will always be remembered for your broad smile, strong and captivating voice and indeed for making Africa proud. Sad, sad, Sad. Fare thee well. Good bye till we all meet again.

Dr. Tony Aidoo Ambassador Designate Komla you have gone too soon. It is a pleasure to have known and related to you. Definitely your life of dedication chesty and humility will be an inspiration to the youth of Ghana and Africa. Rest in Peace.

He was only 41 and looked so fit. It is unbelievable that such a thing will happen to him now.I knew him and at a point I asked him to serve on a board for the youth,He was a social person, always with a smile and quite polite to the society. A bright broadcaster with great promise but who has been cut off midstream,

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo I have heard with shock and dismay the disheartening news of the sudden death of Komla Dumor, the young BBC anchorman. Komla has been a source of great pride and joy to all Ghanaians as a hard working media practitioner who strove for excellence in journalism. I recall his trailblazing radio morning show in our country. His very professional and diligent approach soon turned him into a role model for many young journalists in Ghana and Africa. His sudden demise is a deep loss not just to media and journalism in Ghana but to Africa and the world. The world is certainly the poorer for his passing. He was somebody I was proud to call my friend. My wife, Rebecca, and I, and our children extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved wife, Kwansema, and his children, Elinam, Elorm and Emefa Araba, to his father, Professor Dumor, and the rest of the family, and pray for God’s protection for them during these trying times. May his soul rest in perfect peace. He will be sorely missed.

Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia It was with great sadness that I learnt about the passing of Komla Dumor. It is unbelievable. I kept hoping someone would come to say it was not true. My thoughts go out to his family. This is so devastating for all of us but we can only imagine what his family is going through at the moment.

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This life can be so cruel. Why do such good people die so young? However, we cannot question God. He knows best. William Shakespeare reminds us that “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more”. Ghana has lost a great representative on the global media landscape who had already achieved so much in his young life. Komla made every Ghanaian proud. The world has lost a kind human being. May his soul Rest In Perfect Peace.

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom I am saddened this evening because of the terrible news, that Komla Dumor the Ghanaian media professional who went on to join BBC radio and television has died. I knew him as a respectful young man, a professional who sought continuously to improve his knowledge and skills and sought advice. I liked him a lot because he was a family man who was proud of family and wanted good things and happiness for them. My wife and I are so sorry to learn about his death. We pray to the Good Lord to give him a peaceful eternal rest.

Dr. Abu Sakara It came to me as a surprise and it was difficult to believe that the great broadcaster I saw just less than 24 hours on television is no more. I wish to send my deepest condolence to the family of Late Komla Dumor, especially his wife and children. Also to the media in Ghana, Africa and the world at large. Indeed we have lost a great son of our land. He focused on issues of importance and development to Ghana and Africa. He practiced journalism with decency and proved to the world that African journalists can also rise to the top. Komla Dumor laid it all on the line in the pursuit of the common good. He gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life! Such sacrifice for the common good is the single distinguishing feature that separates the great from the mediocre. The late Komla Dumor was a great Journalist with full of promise. The echoes of his name have travelled the canyons of the world and back to await him in a silent grave. But the throb of our hearts will forever beat out a refrain in his memory….. Komla Damirifa Due, Rest in Perfect Peace.

Dr. Henry Lartey Ghana has lost a true gem, he was a brilliant Journalist and a dynamic presenter. Komla made listening to radio and watching television a real joy. May his soul rest in perfect peace. CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

29

Tribute From Kwasi Twum UNFORGETTABLE!!!

Tribute From Stan Dogbe

EULOGY BY KWASI TWUM

Komla!

Why, my brother, Komla!!

You were a special gift to us.

I am still in shock.

Our JOY. Our shining star ...

The last time I felt this way was that fateful and gloomy day in July 2012. Before that, it was December 09, a few years ago, but that was better because even while I was in self-denial, I prepared myself for the worse the night before, and I believe strongly it was same for my younger brother and my father.

Your charm. Your passion. Your selflessness. Your respect for humanity. Your unyielding integrity. Your thoughtfulness. Your great stature. Your swag. Your infectious laughter. A heart as big as yourself… You loved us! You gave all of yourself to bring out the best in us. You filled us with great pride as you outclassed all on the global stage .

You enriched our lives… My son. Our hero. A very good man steps off stage. Now, we despair! Komla ! Komla!! Komla!!! Silence!! Gone ... too too soon. But, you remain forever in our hearts... Unforgettable!

Komla had many friends and paddies, not to talk about the thousands of acquaintances he encountered as a result of his sterling work as a broadcaster. He was close to his family as well, but I had my own unique kind of relationship with him- a relationship that went beyond being work colleagues. It was a difficult Saturday obviously, and apologies to all who called and texted without a response from me- I could not just see myself as the bearer of such bad news at the time you were trying to make contact, and when the family had not officially made a statement. Like that morning in early December when news of my mum’s collapse tore me apart and saw me driving and crying out on the Tema-Accra motorway, I left my location somewhere last Saturday and drove towards Accra asking myself many questions. When we lost the Prof, I walked from The Castle when I got the news, and walked all the way to the Ringway Estates, all confused and shattered. I felt worse on my drive to Accra last Saturday. Our last conversation on Friday was about an assignment he gave me the previous weekend and his excitement about Brazil. Yes, Brazil and I said to him, “Komla, we go make am”. That is something I say often with him since the first time in about 2005 or so when our boss accused us of allegedly broadcasting falsehood about a government official, a claim we denied vehemently. Obviously I was not enthused but Dumor said, we should challenge him to strict proof. It turned out when the boss brought a CD allegedly recorded of the said programme and played it that it was just another lie against us. That evening, I said to him, the weekend will be my last day at the station. He then said to me, I should not let my detractors

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get the better part of me because whether they liked it or not, “we go make am.” That advice, coming even before my GM rejected my resignation letter and asked me to take it away, is just one of the strong influences Komla had on me. We shared one office and as the Operations Manager, he was my boss. He was however always quick to point out that when it comes to the Super Morning Show; I was his boss because I was the Executive Producer, and the Head of Talk Programmes. People had a lot to say about us, but we had the support of the GM and we really transformed and did things on that show.

Oh Komla! Agyeiwaa! I be we know our things, Dumor! Seyram is heartbroken, and alone in my study writing out this piece, I can only drench myself in tears. Thanks for everything you did for me, and I know you appreciated me for who I am. One day, I will share our trials and why we dedicated ourselves to doing what we love to do with zeal. I remember very well your closing plea when we last spoke. I can only say, I will try my best to have it done.

Stanislav Xoese Dogbe

One day after some colleagues tore into us while ‘cracking’ some bottles at a joint near the Elwak Stadium, Komla said to me, “Xoese (he pronounces it forcefully and as though there is an ‘i’ at the end), we don’t have to be friends to work together. See them just as colleagues, and keep the work relationship. They will be surprised when you do that.” I remember the energy and effort we put into branding the show, the revolutionary round neck and golf shirts of different kinds we produced and shared with our listeners- the trips around to check out affiliate stations etc. We talk about his work and my work, and about things that are very personal between us. When we last spoke about the assignment he gave me, we agreed that we would meet on Friday, this week. And here we are, people sending me messages- Stan, take heart; Don’t be hard on yourself, Stan; Are you ok, Stan. Why Dumor? I put up a brave face throughout an event I had to attend Saturday night, but these messages brought home the reality that you were gone. It is the second time I have drenched myself in some activity after loosing a dear one, because I could not bring myself to join others in the family home. This is devastating, Komla. A lot of things going through my mind now. Why now?

CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

31

Tribute to Komla Afeke Dumor BY THE MULTIMEDIA GROUP

It was few minutes after 3pm and the JoyNews room was bubbling as usual. Even with a skeleton team on a Saturday, the newsroom was far from a funeral parlor. Real Madrid were in action and so too were Arsenal. The shouts were loud, the jeers thundering. Amidst the lively chaos, George Wiafe of the Joy Business News Desk, known for his calm demeanor quietly called us into the production room. In our usual lightheartedness we remember asking him if the meeting with us was going to bring money. He was exceptionally quiet, even for George, so we followed him into the small cubicle. He turned and faced us saying, “Komla Dumor is reported dead but we are still confirming.” Minds instantly went blank. Jaws dropped. For several seconds there was just silence. Could this be true? Could this possibly, even remotely, be true?

him) failed to send a link. He failed to call. It was a story about Komla but it was a story too hard to break. He probably never found the strength to confirm it. We did get confirmation from a family friend of Komla’s but we still could not break the story – we had to wait for the family confirmation of the death – that is the convention. It was the most difficult two hours of our careers in journalism. We had the confirmation from an impeccable source, social media was inundated with reports about the death, our phones were ringing ceaselessly with friends and family members calling to find out if it was true. Praying against the confirmation didn’t seem to be working - it had to be true. Komla was no more. We were grieving and yet had to craft the story we were unwilling to broadcast.

We were all devastated, yet we clutched onto a faint hope that the confirmation that we now sought would never come. Komla couldn’t be dead. No, he couldn’t.

As the calls came, so too did colleagues in other departments - flooding into the newsroom to find out if what they were hearing was true or just rumor but the atmosphere in the newsroom did little to comfort those who held hopes that it was just a distasteful hoax.

As journalists, when reports or even rumors of death break, our call to duty is not to cry or mourn, as others will normally do. Even in grief, our job is to begin researching the background of the person and to begin writing the story - the story of death. How it happened? When it happened? Who was there when it happened? Then we try to get confirmation from family sources before broadcast. It is the cruelest part of our job!

They had heard the news; read about it from several other sources but Joy FM, where Komla was nurtured and groomed for global success had not broken it. Its website, myjoyonline. com had not published it. Some prayed that JoyNews would never break the sad and unfortunate news, because if it did, it would have sealed a heart wrenching piece of information so early in the year.

But here we were, digging to write the story of death; not of a distant politician or a distant celebrity but the story of the death of Komla Afeke Dumor, a colleague who was a role model to many and whose towering credentials remained indelible.

At 5:30pm, Joy FM through George Wiafe and Elton John Brobbey broke its long, forced silence and announced the death of their most beloved Komla Dumor. myjoyonline.com published it almost simultaneously.

He was far away at the BBC but he always found space on myjoyonline.com because he was always achieving great things.

Messages started pouring in. For the first time, colleagues who were with Komla Dumor in his days at Joy FM and who rattled the Queen’s language with such proficiency and extravagance were groping for words to describe the man they so loved and cherished.

He was loved so much by Multimedia’s Chief Executive, Kwasi Twum (KT) that he made it a hobby surfing the net to find if there was anything about his darling boy. And when he found it, he would either call or send a link of that story and demand that it be placed on myjoyonline.com and given all the prominence it deserved. On Saturday 18th January 2014, KT (as we affectionately call

Doreen Andoh, host of the Cosmopolitan Mix, the show that followed Komla’s Super Morning Show, remembered how she used to swap witty jokes and slogans with the Boss Player. Matilda Asante Asiedu and Dzifa Bampoh could not be heard.

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The Komla We Know

BY FORMER JOY FM COLLEAGUES

Their low sweet voices had been subdued and taken over by grief. Charles Mensah, Samens, Stan Dogbe and Eugenia Appiah were too overwhelmed to speak. Kofi Ansah, Current Programmes Director could not find one word to describe Komla Dumor when he was asked to do. He called him the “presenters’ presenter.” Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, usually witty, struggled for words. He mumbled all through the interview as he openly wept. And who would not grieve over the death of a 41-year-old gem. A man with such promise, easily the most successful broadcast journalist Joy FM, Ghana and Africa have produced. We will all miss you dearly, Komla. In grief, our thoughts turn to those whose pain could only be more intense than ours. Your wife, Kwansema, your three lovely kids Elinam, Emefa and Araba, your father Professor Ernest Dumor and your siblings Mawuena and Korshi. Rest in Perfect Peace, Komla Afeke Dumor!!!!!!!! There will never be another you!

Komla Afeke Dumor…………he meant something to us all… To the taxi driver he was courteous and friendly, To the garbage man he was affable, To the Waakye seller he was comical, To the Hausa Koko seller he was a ‘joker’ To the mechanic he was knowledgeable, To the security man he was ‘commander-in-chief’ To the janitor he was a kindred spirit, To the African he was breaking barriers, To needy children he was a passionate & loving father with an endearing heart, To the Statesman he was a consummate professional in pursuit of excellence, To the Media he was a stylish professional, To the politician he was zealous & charismatic, To his competitors he was resilient, with a remarkable sense of humour, To his employers he was a selfless bundle of talent, with an invigorating personality To his friends he was witty, loved life & would always ‘DU’ – ‘MOR’ And to his former colleagues from JOY FM he was simply………KOMLA! “Some are bound to die young By dying young a person stays young in people’s memory. If he burns brightly before he dies, his brightness shines for all time “ —Unknown Boss Player…xhe denyuie, nante yie…………….God be with you till we meet again

CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

33

Tribute By Peter Horrocks DIRECTOR, BBC WORLD SERVICE

To understand the impact of Komla Dumor you need only look at what happened after his devastating death. The BBC’s audiences responded immediately in their tens of thousands, besieging us with their grief and their admiration for Komla and what he had achieved. Even greater of course was the impact on his BBC friends. I visited Komla’s home the day after his loss to pay my respects to his widow and children, alongside colleagues from BBC Africa and his close friends. We were all numbed. We all felt we had lost our big (very big) brother. The next day I organised an informal gathering in a church right next to the BBC. Hundreds of colleagues came to share their shock and grieve together. Then we held a thanksgiving for Komla on Saturday Feb 1. It was in the magnificent St Martin in the Fields Church on the historic Trafalgar Square, a cold but brightly sunny day. The best of Ghana and the UK came together, with many dignitaries and many regular folk paying their heartfelt tributes – in eulogies, songs and prayers. Then, only ten days ago, a further remarkable tribute. The Prince of Wales, visiting the new BBC headquarters, broke off his tour to write his condolences in a book dedicated to Komla. I have presented that condolence book and a photograph of Prince Charles to Professor Dumor. The extraordinary tributes that London, the BBC and the BBC’s global audience paid to Komla are powerful signs of the respect and love in which he was held. How was that emotion created? I think it was the genius of his great combination of a life enhancing personality with exceptional journalistic talent. When he joined the BBC Komla exploded onto the radio and the TV screen. He became the personalisation of the BBC’s commitment to Africa with the show that was his - Focus on Africa on BBC World News. He didn’t want to be pigeon-holed and always wanted to spread his wings, with some memorable assignments. 2010 World Cup, British royal wedding, London Olympics, Dutch royal wedding, Obama visit, Bill Clinton interview and, still to come but tragically unrealised. Brazil world cup. He adored and celebrated his Africanness and Africa. But he was also an Africa journalist for the world, telling stories in a way that everyone can relate to, and lapping up the reaction he was getting around the globe.

After that Dutch royal wedding he wrote to an editor: “Folks here keep asking me if I’m the presenter who ‘takes his shirt off’. Live the story Boss.” I have heard from BBC people who are Afghan, Arab or Australian, many of whom never even met him, who have been in sorrow. How could that be? They just knew he was their guy and they invested their hopes in him. And we know that’s true of the BBC’s viewers too. There’s a telling story from BBC audience research that when they polled viewers in Hong Kong, Komla topped the list of presenters with one Chinese man saying “he’s just like me”. Komla represented a universal humanity that is irrespective of skin colour, country of origin or faith. Komla stood for us all, in Africa and in the world. My last story comes from the wonderful interviews Komla secured with the family of the late Nelson Mandela. His producer tells the story “Komla had built up a relationship with Ndaba, Madiba’s grandson, after interviewing him at the London Olympics. He and Ndaba ended up having a late night whisky together at our hotel on the Saturday after Mandela’s passing, and that’s when he received an invitation to the house. We went there pushing our way past thousands of people who were there to pay their respects to Mandela. Komla was stopped every 10 yards for photos, autographs, hugs and handshakes. When we finally entered the Mandela home, we came face to face with Graca Machel. He knelt down beside her and she pulled him towards her saying, “Thank you for everything you have done for Africa. We are so proud of you. You are like a son in this house.” Komla was overwhelmed and couldn’t believe she knew who he was. We had gone over the questions for the Mandela family thoroughly beforehand because - believe it or not - Komla was actually quite nervous. But I don’t need to tell you what an amazing job he did. They loved him from the first question and were totally relaxed in his presence.” In the best of broadcasting, personality and professional skill come together. Komla was supremely gifted in both – a radiant human being with a razor sharp journalistic mind. He was an incomparable star. And I will miss him deeply.

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Tribute From Lyse Doucet CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT,

Tribute From Solomon Mugera BBC AFRICA EDITOR

BBC

I first met Komla Dumor in 2007 on a blazing hot day in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. He still managed to sport a classy three-piece suit. A gaggle of young Ghanaians tagged along after him. When I ran into one of them later, I asked, “Are you working with Komla?” “No,” he replied with the proudest of grins, “I am part of his entourage.” Komla was a star from the start and, from that day, my broadcasting brother. He came to me for advice about working in the BBC. I went to him to discuss stories about Africa, and more. He bounced off our television screens with his warmth and winning smile. He kept our attention with the deep timbre of his voice, and the questions of a keen curious mind. When you met him in person, there was an enveloping bear hug to boot. Wherever I was in the world, just seeing him on the screen never failed to bring a smile to my day, and to the days of many others. Hours before Komla died, I was writing an email to tease him about the stacks of mail waiting for him in our shared pigeonhole. There were letters from near and far from people who wanted him in their world. We were all part of his entourage – and still are.

Komla Dumor was the face 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. But he was not a praise-singer. He was determined to present a balanced story, warts and all, and to show the human face behind the headlines. Even as a number of African countries were being heralded for being among the world’s fastest-growing economies, he wanted to dig deeper. For he knew that while in those countries a select few were wining and dining in five-star hotels and driving the latest luxury cars, in the same neighbourhood there were families struggling to live on $1 (£0.60) a day. “There must be balance” or “Please, don’t patronise me,” he used to say. Despite his towering figure, he never came across as intimidating - unless you were a politician with something to hide, being interviewed by him. He loved people, because he believed stories are about people: to tell a story well, you need to understand people. But he didn’t see people in terms of mere contacts. He saw people as human beings and collaborators in a mission to tell the African story. International broadcasters, including the BBC, have often been accused of being coy to promote black African talent but with Komla, the BBC got it right, as he smashed through internal and external barriers. BBC TV now boasts many African presenters and reporters. In his short career, he changed so much. He will be sorely missed.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

35

Tribute From Herbert Mensah

You were and are everything that most people are not! Most people associate you with your incredible sense of humor, booming laugh and an extraordinary resonating voice. The ladies loved those bear hugs, the laugh and that smile. You always reserved the most special hugs for Elinam in particular and Elorm knows the spare-ribs were reserved for him. You gave everyone a little magic and a dream. Yes you did not suffer fools but you had a big heart made of gold, chocolate, sugar and all things nice! For me Boss, just hanging out and being real was special! Cooking for you, converting you to Kotoko, Arsenal, Saracens and sharing the values of my beloved rugby and cricket were as important as imagining what it would take to get our continent moving in the right direction My Brother Komla Blessed is the man who dies pure, Cursed are the evil doers who survive! Komla to be associated with you as a Brother and a Friend, to be someone who you could trust and depend on reveals more about all your friends than you! You are known as our untainted National land guard of probity, integrity, fearlessness and seeker of equity and the truth. People who claim to be your friends must be able to follow and stand by your side out of the shadows. Yes anyone who is a friend of ours must be able to take the heat! We had a dream and we were a perfect team. Our principles in life were the same and were born out of a deep-seated desire to see equity and justice for all. You wore your heart on your sleeve fearlessly and with integrity and a pride that no one could challenge! You hated mediocrity and the arrogance of power. You hated excuses being given for ineptness and incompetence in public office because of being Ghanaian. You became global and Ghana’s Superstar! As I think of you I received this quote and had to share – “Take away your protective layers and open your heart to reveal your beautiful soul. Through an open heart we can learn the art of being humble, compassionate, joyful, peaceful, creative, and loving”

In the mid-morning of Saturday 18 January 2014 Komla left us suddenly, his appointed time with the Almighty God had come. We were all deeply saddened by his untimely death, his apparent good health left us surprised and made it particularly difficult to come to terms with his absence. Painful as his departure has been, his presence in our lives for 41 years has left us with the memory of a person who was generous and warm in spirit, for whom no obstacle was too high and no achievement too small, a person who will always be remembered by those whose paths he crossed. Indeed everyone whom I have met spoke of his warmth, his smile, his kindness, his objectivity, integrity and Yes, Elinam, his awesome hugs! I paid a full tribute to him on the 2nd of February at the BBC’s organised memorial in St Martin-in-the-Fields. I thought he was great but then I thought I was biased because he was my friend and kid brother. But since his death all manner of people, many of whom had never met him, have said how much they admired him, how much they enjoyed his broadcasts, how proud they were of him. Indeed since the 2nd of February I have even, in discussions with his wife Kwansema, noted that even she did not realise the true greatness of Komla! Komla, our Brother from different parents, you have rocked and shocked a nation both in life and in death! You represented that beacon of life, which we all aspire to and few ever reach. That beacon was the light of truth, honesty, integrity, fearlessness, selflessness, care for others and redemption for many. It was based on a driven quest to succeed and derived from a sense of purpose harnessed by your belief in God!

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Tribute From Herbert Mensah

Komla as I speak of you I must first try to explain who you are because you represent so much to so many in many different ways with very few comprehending who you really are! Indeed in many ways, with the exception of your Father Professor Ernest Dumor, Mawuena and Korshie, we are all by degree “late-comers”! We got to know and love you at various points of your life and you left indelible marks on us all as a result! It is widely accepted throughout the world that “0koto nwo anoma” explains who we are and therefore we have to appreciate the background and brilliance of your parents. Your Father, Professor Ernest Dumor and late Mother, Cecelia Dumor were stalwarts of principle, integrity and excellence. Their parents are widely and rightly heralded for their greatness in the fields of Education and the Arts, in developing numerous schools in the Volta Region as well as in the composition of our National Anthem. Along with your sibling Mawuena and Korshie you are who you are because of your parents! I emphasize this not only as a point of respect but also because they handed down to you those very qualities which have evoked the global respect and love we all have for you! Professor Dumor, Sir, my first comments to you after Komla’s passing was that the night before he had spoken about how his faith in God against all negative forces had constantly seen him climb the ladder of life. Komla was a man who was guided fearlessly by his faith! Dad, Komla loved you more than you can imagine! Mawuena, Komla sat with me for ten hours one day and six hours 2 days later less than a week before he left us and he spent five hours speaking about you … his love for his big sister and his fears for her. He wondered whether you would be allowed to show excellence in the face of “haters” and whether you understood that not everyone wished Ghana well. Korshie, Komla was always so proud of you and boasted about your achievements and commitments as a Doctor. He loved his kid brother! The greatest loves in Komla’s life were undoubtedly his three beautiful children. Elinam, Elorm and Araba. Dad loved you all more than anyone else on earth and now that he is in heaven I know he is smiling down on you. He planned for your future and wanted only the best for you and even as he desperately CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

wanted to return to mother Ghana and take up the fight to get our country right, he spoke of the need to be able to look after his three beautiful children beforehand! Elinam, Elorm, and Araba, your father was a giant, a real life hero, who touched the World with his presence and special charm. He was your hero who gave you special quality time and love! Kwansema I am not sure you realized until now what a superstar Komla was. Your husband was the ultimate seducer whom the whole world fell in love with and who you had to share as he grew into the superstar who rubbed shoulders with Presidents, Royalty, Beauty Queens and ordinary people alike! Dad, Mawuena and Korshie, Komla became the dream for a continent’s youth to aspire to and a barometer for those who are in power! Komla was Fearless, Principled, Determined, Ambitious but with Integrity…. Oh yes at times reckless too but then, I dare say, that comes with the territory! I loved him for all of that and more and perhaps because like me, he was also fallible! He was human! We both learnt to question and continued questioning all things until we were satisfied. I have said, and I repeat, that like Komla, I have been brought up to understand things rationally. My judgment on situations and events has always been based on logic and a faith that God decides all matters. It is however at times like this when a pure soul, a younger brother and a friend is taken away at such a young and critical age that I am left questioning and confused. I am battling to understand why someone so pure and so important to us all has been taken away! Young people have called to tell me that their “dream” has been taken away. People who have lost faith in the “system” and who are looking over the horizon are traumatized by Komla’s departure! I now realize that I can never hope to understand a tragedy so great and unnecessary as this…. And though my love for God is unchallenged my faith is now being severely tested. I need to understand, beyond blind faith, why he has been taken away… I am struggling! The quandary for us all lies in the suddenness of your departure. As we all put together the jigsaw of your last few months, days, hours and even minutes we still cannot fathom what could have happened and why our all-knowing God decided to take you! You have succeeded in provoking a host of mixed and extreme 37

Tribute From Herbert Mensah

emotions with your departure My Brother and for me, it represents the biggest test of my faith to date! I say this because all signs show that you were well and strong! In the last few days we were all impressed with your new dietary, work and rest regimen and I was particularly impressed, not only with your appearance but by the discipline you had shown in managing your busy lifestyle. You were at a party the night before and returned home by midnight and you were well! Oh God let me understand what happened and why you took away our Brother! Your departure has left us feeling that we must have let you down. You sought love and perhaps did not appreciate the extent to which you were loved. I am sorry if we let you down. We promise you now that your true friends stood for the same ideals and we will keep them unwaveringly. I humbly would like to say these words about my friend, brother, confidante and the all round wonderful person I have been privileged to know. He had a joyful soul, he was a courageous enquirer and a strong conversationalist, he was an ambitious and insightful journalist, he was an unassuming role model, he was a child of Africa, a proud Ghanaian, he was a dutiful son, a faithful brother, a loving husband, a devoted father and a loyal friend. We shall all miss him – he was the matter that filled the space that we shall always remember and talk about.

smile and booming laugh are captivating all souls in heaven, as well as the fact that you have taken the lead and are waiting to welcome the rest of us. Komla, Kim sent me a quote by Henri Nouwen, which I feel I must use as I end … “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in our hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” Komla may your soul rest in eternal peace with the Almighty God. Boss Playa you will never be forgotten.

WRONG is WRONG even if everyone is doing it. RIGHT is RIGHT even if no one is doing it.

Let us celebrate his life and thank God for having given us such a wonderful brother, father and friend. We will miss him dearly but we are truly blessed to have had the honour and pleasure of knowing him. Elinam, Elorm and Araba you now have many Uncles and Aunties to give you special hugs and to spend time with. Dad in heaven will watch over you and we your Uncles and Aunts will always be here for you! Kwansema as you move on in life you will be loved or judged on how Komla’s children are brought up in his memory. I pray that as they carry his name they will always understand how much he loved them and everything he stood for! Khalil Gibran said “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” Komla, the pain we feel is only lightened in knowing that your 38 CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Tribute From University Of Ghana Alumni Association The University of Ghana Alumni Association is drowned in shock and sorrow at the passing away of an honoured and dedicated Alumnus of the University Of Ghana, a proud son of Legon Hall, KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR. His passing away comes at a time when the Alumni Association in conjunction with the University of Ghana just celebrated its 65th Anniversary. When the university was celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Komla was the MC for the Fund-Raising Dinner Dance which climaxed the activities for the celebrations. We’ve lost a great icon, a mentor and a gem. He was an inspiration to up and coming young journalists and represented Ghana on the global market. As we mourn our Komla, we at the same time celebrate him as a shining example of what we, the University of Ghana Alumni Association, stand for. We urge all Alumni of the University to stand firmly with the family. Our condolences go to Mrs. Kwansema Dumor, their children and indeed the people of Ghana on our great loss. May the soul of the KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR Rest in Perfect Peace. DAMIRIFA DUE! DUE NE AMANEHUNU!! Issued on behalf of the University of Ghana Alumni. Paa Kwesi Yankey

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Tribute To Komla A. Dumor

FROM HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL MPA CLASS OF 2003 AND THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL ALUMNI OF GHANA

July 2002 was a unique month for a group of future leaders in society who enrolled in the Master in Public Policy degree program at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). The first arrivals were students from developing countries in the Mason Fellows Program, and they were joined by students from across the US and the world in August 2002. The class of HKS MC/MPA 2003 is an amazing collection of accomplished professionals in various fields in the public and private sectors, who formed a strong bond and built friendships that continue long after our graduation in 2003. A member of this class was an amazing gentleman from Ghana named Komla Dumor. It did not take long for Komla to make his presence felt. Komla was a bright star - with his big smile, he made people feel that he was really listening because he wanted to hear their story and be a supportive friend. A towering figure, he was a gifted journalist who loved people. Komla always got the full story, and when a discussion became too intense, he could break the ice with a smart remark and open up space for laughter. He had the edge of a smart reporter and the heart of a community leader. The director of the Mason Fellows Program at the time Komla

was at HKS, describes him as one who stood out from the crowd “for his courage to ask tough questions, to hold others accountable, to dig for the truth and then to tell the story in a way that enabled his listeners to connect, to challenge their own assumptions, to gain new perspective.” At HKS, Komla was a big presence on campus and many of his classmates knew he would be successful in his career. We were not surprised to learn he was recently named one of the 100 most influential Africans and we expected that one day, he would perhaps become president of Ghana. Komla was superlative in so many ways. In his talent and grace. In his love for his family, for Ghana and for Africa. In his unflinching loyalty to his friends. In his enjoyment of the good things in life and his commitment to uphold what is right. Any list would be pitifully incomplete. Komla had the amazing ability of bringing out the best in people. His enthusiasm and determination were contagious. And so was his laughter. He did everything with passion and made that passion felt by all those around him. We still remember his unique style of hugging people!!

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Tribute From Peter Jones BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER

There are many stars in the Harvard community but Komla was one of the stars who was off the charts. Many of us followed his career after the Kennedy school. He wrote thoughtful, mostly optimistic columns about business in Africa. More importantly, he emerged as a trusted voice on radio and then became an internationally respected presenter for BBC TV, bringing a gravitas and a modern African perspective to his reporting. Komla was determined to shift the focus and change the way the world talked about and portrayed Africa and he was ideally positioned to do so at the BBC. John F. Kennedy, after whom our school was named said, “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity”. Komla held such strong beliefs. You hear the words “larger than life” often these days to describe someone with an outsized personality. Komla definitely was larger than life and was a leading light and role model for Ghana and in a broader sense, the continent of Africa. He had so much more to do and no one expected this tragic ending for this bright shining star. Komla was laying the groundwork to return to Ghana one day and enter into a leadership position where he would help transform the country to improve the welfare of his people. This wasn’t a pipe dream. He had planned well and was going to make it happen. Taking a cue from John F. Kennedy who said, “ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country,” Komla’s goal was to serve his country and see it grow into an advanced economy with a high standard of living for all.

“I wanted to join Komla’s colleagues, family and friends in expressing deep sympathy and grief on his passing. The world is a poorer place without him, and Ghana has lost a wonderful ambassador. May he rest in perfect peace.”

Tributes From Ambassador Gene A. Cretz US AMBASSADOR TO GHANA

“Komla’s loss is a loss for mankind. The United States government and people join the Dumor family in morning the untimely death of a man who represented the best of Ghana and humankind and was true to his profession. We have truly lost a human treasure”.

In loving memory of our friend, we send to his family and to the people of Ghana our heartfelt sympathies. Today we say goodbye to our trusted friend and we know we will continue to miss his physical presence but we like to think that Komla’s spirit lives on – in our hearts, in the hallways and classrooms at Harvard Kennedy School, and in those faraway parts of the world where he left his mark. With Profound Respect and Love, The Harvard Kennedy School Class of 2003

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Tribute From Esther A. N. Cobbah & Tsatsu Tsikata

Tribute From Christian Council

Komla,

The Christian Council mourns the sudden departure of Komla Dumor, a trail blazer in broadcasting in Ghana, who projected Africa at the international level through his outstanding performance at BBC.

There are many conversations started and not concluded. Numerous topics touched on and not exhausted. Issues raised and not settled. Your pursuit of excellence, your deep rootedness and faith in God, your Maker, always shone through. Your deep love for your children, their wellbeing and their future was evident, non-negotiable. You had such a passion about the development of your country, Ghana, as well as the continent of Africa.

Mr Dumor’s passion for excellence, objectivity and innovation is one that is worth celebrating and emulating by journalists. He was a symbol of inspiration and hope to many young people in Africa. Rev. Kwabena Opuni- Frimpong General Secretary of the Council

Your desire was to make the truth about Africa break through the barriers of ignorance and prejudice. Komla, you kept us updated about your life and work and it gave us such pleasure to see you excel, to see how God was lifting you to new heights. We applauded. We encouraged you to remain on course – heading His leading. Komla, the shock of your sudden departure has not left us and we remain deeply saddened. Komla, the conversations will continue. Cyberspace, after all, is also part of God’s creation! In the cloud we will still store and retrieve our flow of messages - till we meet again.

Rest in Peace Komla.

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Tribute From AAG

Tribute From TUC

The news of the untimely passing of our beloved brother, friend of the Advertising industry, member of the media fraternity, key player in international media circles, true son of the soil and de facto Brand ambassador of Ghana, put us in a state of shock and left us with inconsolable grief.

The leadership and entire membership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) expresses our deepest condolences to the Dumor family for their loss.

Notwithstanding the fact that Komla was not a member of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), the industry benefitted tremendously from his unique voice and impeccable diction as he applied his talent to notable radio and television commercials amongst other channels. Komla exhibited a high sense of professionalism and diligence in executing any project. His affable demeanor and warm personality always allowed him to lend with all industry players.

The TUC also joins hearts with the Ghana Journalist Association, the National Media Commission and the good people of Ghana to express our shock at the sudden death of Komla Dumor. Komla was one of the finest journalists at the BBC in current times; therefore his death is a big blow to Ghana, the BBC and the world. The Union prays that the Good Lord takes the family through these difficult times and bless them with His peace.

On behalf of the entire membership of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), I would like to commiserate with the Dumor family as well as all colleagues and friends far and near, under these extremely difficult times. I pray that the good Lord sees you through it all and grants Komla perfect peace.

Mrs. Norkor A. Duah (President, AAG. Vice President of the IAA)

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Tribute From Manasseh Azure

Tribute From Bernard Avle

Komla was one of those people who had genuine interest in my career. Despite his busy schedule, he had time to initiate discussions with me on stories I was doing, notably GYEEDA and the Korle-Bu investigations. He offered advice and suggested areas I could explore. He became like a caring elder brother and I am missing him like a father.

Your sudden and shocking death has taken us through a maelstrom of emotions, a flood of questions and sober realizations….about the transience of life, the pain of mortality and the frailty of the human soul.

SENIOR BROADCAST JOURNALIST, JOY FM

DIRECTOR OF NEWS PROGRAMMING, HOST OF CITI BREAKFAST SHOW, CITI FM, ACCRA.

But even in death, you shine my dear big brother. I mourn your passing, but I celebrate your passion I regret your demise, but rejoice in your excellence

Tribute From Anas Aremeyaw Anas

I weep at your secret pains, but bask in your trailblazing glory. You were a man among men. Love always... Your little brother Bernard.

From your days as traffic reporter, running the Super Morning Show, bagging that GJA top prize and moving on to make history with the BBC, you showed us that fortune favours the bold. Your life defined luck more as a result of hard work; rather than a fluke. You were consistent in excellence. As a friend, you never relented in our shared aim of keeping the flag of Ghana aloft in our engagement with international networks. You were always there to share ideas and compare notes as we engaged the world with our talents, to keep pushing the envelope and shaping our craft.

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Tribute From Faisal Hassan

CHAIRMAN & CEO, COPIA AGRIBUSINESS, USA.

I first met Komla when we both arrived in Cambridge in July of 2002 to begin Mid-Career MPA Program. Walking into a room full of strangers, strangers who would over the course of a year become my family, Komla’s face radiated a beautiful genuine smile, a smile that said to all of us strangers, “I am your friend.” Somehow none of us doubted that his smile would one day be globally recognizable. None of us knew back then how quickly that was going to happen. Like all of my classmates, I was drawn to Komla. Humor and laughter made us quick friends. He was funny, smart and articulate. His warm and easy manner made you instantly open up to him, people told him their secrets and we all shared with him our hopes and our dreams. Komla listened to everyone. God had made him a great listener. Sometimes he laughed at me but most of the time he laughed with me. He had a great laugh. He hugged us all. He had a great hug. He was a most generous spirit. I remember early on when I visited him in the hospital in Boston when his daughter, Elinam, was born. Something had changed in him that day. He was smiling and beaming with pride, like all fathers do when their children are born, but there was something serious about him as well. He had found a new purpose in life and from that moment on his day began and ended with his three children. Everything he did he did for them. The man I met had become a Dad. The last time I saw him on August 9th, 2013 in the hotel lobby in London, he was on his way to see his children. He said goodbye to me, hugged with one of his famous hugs, and smiled at me. I thought about how far we had come from those days at Cambridge. Everything had changed for us yet his smile, his laugh and his hug had been the constant that always anchored us back to the beginning all those years ago. Somehow it all seemed like it was yesterday. All of us who were blessed to have known Komla, if we really listen, can still hear that laugh now.

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Tribute to Komla Afeke Dumor

Tribute by Kim Elizabeth Bird

“It is well with my soul”

I learned of his death with a sense of panic… there were so many conversations we had promised to have, so many things we had promised to do, how was it possible that he was gone so soon, we weren’t done being friends yet... Through endless tears, inner turmoil and boundless grief I watched tributes and read endless articles and comments. He was lauded by friends, colleagues and strangers and all I could say to those who asked was that his onscreen presence wasn’t just a character he portrayed, he really was all that and more, warm, funny and deeply caring, a gentle giant of a man who wanted to do better, to do more for himself, his children, his family, his country and for all those who crossed his path. But to me he was still just Komla, a man I respected, a dear and wonderful friend I loved, whose communications never failed to make me smile. He will be deeply missed and because I still don’t know what to say, I’ve borrowed and paraphrased from a friend, who shared the words I needed:

BY AFI AMORO AND THE JANDEL FAMILY

20 years of knowing you have passed so quickly albeit very memorably. A young strapping lad entered our home and left an indelible mark in all our lives from my parents to every worker in Jandel Ltd. Very respectful, very funny, very intelligent, very kind, very You! Komla this loss is personal o! Through our association in the University of Ghana, through your asking me to critique your performances in the various roles you took up in the course of your work, I have been so so proud to be associated with you, little bro. Why I was not in my office when you came to look for me twice in December, I don’t know...... Thank you for enquiring about me daily through Facebook when I was ill despite your busy schedule and for helping us build a good brand in Jandel. You will forever be in our hearts Rest in Perfect Peace

“As the curtain closes on all I have attempted to do and be; I want you to look into my eyes and see how much you mattered. Not what you looked like. Not what you did or, how much money you made. Not even how talented you were. I want you to look into the teary eyes of someone who loved you and see; You mattered.”

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Tributes

Justice Lee Adoboe, Accra, Ghana

Augustine Adams, Accra, Ghana

As a fellow Ghanaian I’m saddened to hear the death of Komla Dumor. As a child growing up in Ghana I always listened to his shows on the local radio and when I moved to London I was honoured to have met him in person whilst at work. It’s very sad to hear this news today. My prayers are with his family.

I remember his coverage at the world cup 2010. The time he took off his shirt to reveal the Ghanaian football team jersey he was putting on. He was a light indeed to many particularly African journalists. He will be greatly missed for his tireless effort in journalism.

Maximus, London

Anderson Chinorumba, Gaborone, Botswana

I first met Komla while we were both students at the University of Ghana around 2000-2001. He was working at JOY FM while still studying at the time. He was affable, friendly and had a good sense of humour... He made a mark on radio journalism in Ghana, and was a great source of inspiration for many Ghanaian youth, especially, those who wanted to get into radio. May his soul rest in peace.

Here was truly a shining star of Africa… a beacon of Africa’s warm and sunshine. Komla was Africa in every essence. I think wherever Komla is now he is smiling because he left a mark on this world. I think he has joined other great spirits, my father… We should be glad that they came into our lives, even for a short while.

Emmanuel, New York City, USA It is a sad day today we have lost a talented journalist. I am still in shock. A true representation of Africa, strong, true gentleman, a go-getter. You will be missed Komla.

Rickie Davies, Ghana I never knew him personally but always looked forward to his posts on Facebook. My Facebook page will not be the same without him. Every Ghanaian loved him and we still do. Forever in our hearts. My sympathies to his wife, children and entire family. Life is really unpredictable. Rest in Peace

Benjamin Tetteh, Accra, Ghana We have lost a truly dedicated and illustrious journalist... Working for the BBC, Komla was a delight to listen to; very knowledgeable and inquisitive at the same time. In his prime, we have lost him painfully. Who will now speak for Africa as a true African? CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Denise Sangster, San Francisco, California I loved this enthusiastic and dedicated man. My heart goes out to his family and friends in this tragic time. Hard to believe I will not see his smiling face and down to earth assessments of his home roots, Africa, again. A tragedy and one which I trust BBC will honour and respect to the best of their ability. Amongst all of the BBC’s many great and famous human assets, Komla Dumor’s name should today be irrevocably established.

Jimbo, Pattaya, Thailand I am in deep shock, hearing of the early death of Komla Dumor. He added a different aspect on the world’s developing stories, somehow making many, pleasant and more understandable, even with sensitive subjects. He will be really be missed by the viewing audience.

Jack Wolstenholme, Kranevo, Bulgaria Komla has left a legacy in a media arena and a better understanding of Africans stories. He will be dearly miss by everyone. 47

Tributes

He was a true symbol of hope for those want to make change in people life through media.

David-Mayen, Juba, South Sudan Komla was the embodiment of the vibrancy and the strength of the BBC’s relationship with the audience in Africa. In recent years, Komla’s presence and expertise has been appreciated even more widely, across the world and into the UK. It is hard to imagine the newsroom without him.

Charamba Tafadzwa Lovejoy, South Africa So sorry on the loss of Komla. I was priviledged to meet him here in South Africa when he covered the funeral of another great hero and the best humanitarian to have lived on this planet President Nelson Mandela. I believe they are together in heaven and president Nelson Mandela is asking why Komla departed the world so early. Komla was one of the best jounalists from Africa to have lived and graced the big screen. He was an inspiration to us young people of Africa and the world at large. I and the rest of the world will greatly miss this great intelligent, educated and very humbled African brother who tried by all means to put Africa on the world map. May God guide you in this sad time.

Abu Fuseini What a world so strange nd so impossible to restrain.If I could prevent death from stretching its icy hands at full length,I could have done so 4 you Komla.Oh what painful separation?So now,old age,disease,accident or suicide are no longer prerequisites to death.Death is ,now like an armed robber or a guerrilla fighter lying ambush to unsuspecting souls.We need a medical intelligence to be able to give a forecast of this mystery.So my role model is gone like that.Your command of the queens language,yr sonorous voice,yr beautiful physical structure and the dexterity with which you approached what loved to do best,made some of us ran after you every minute. until we meet again Komla,adieu brother.RIPP.

Keylow Divine Adja Heroes have run marathons to save lives. Heroes have fought wars for good of peace. Heroes have gone where others fear to go. Heroes give their own lives so others may live. You have my deepest Sympathy.

Willscovia Inimah, Minneapolis, MN Just sending my condolences to your family during this period. I have grown to know Komla in the last few month through social media and Focus on Africa….He did tell the African story well, that we will all miss. May God be with you during this time.

Bongani Nkwinika A life so short, yet inspired the world. To explain how much Komla inspired me would be “a lie”. It is so much more than I can explain...May His Soul Rest in Peace. 48 CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

Online Tributes “Heartbroken to hear Komla Dumor has died. The best of col-

“For me it will always be his great, big bear hugs. They were

leagues, a great journalist - he lit up every room he walked into.”

spontaneous, from the heart, acts which captured his warmth and

— written by Stephen Sackur (BBC Reporter) “Komla understood that you can love & celebrate Africa, & ask tough questions about its present and future. We all needed what

grounded humanity in a way that words never could. They were so tight that once I did actually think he might have cracked a rib!” — Jessica McCallin, Journalist, World Service (BBC) “You greeted me with a big smile when we first met in 2007 in

he was doing.” — written by Ros Atkins (BBC Presenter) “Dear friend and brother, you inspired and encouraged me, you were a world-class journalist. May your family be comforted.” — written by Rolake Akinkugbe (Head, Energy, Oil and Gas Research, Ecobank) “Hoped news about Komla was a rumour. Met him in person a

BBC Nairobi office. Your laughter kept us going through night shifts on the World Today. That’s how I will always remember you.” — Huong Ly, Senior Broadcast journalist BBC World Service “All I can do is remember moments shared. We hadn’t known each other long, but we forged a close friendship… He was a dear man who had a passion for journalism. But his true passion was his family…Rest peacefully, Komla. Chale x”

few months ago. Uber-talented, funny and passionate about the

— Melanie Ruiz, journalist, BBC Focus on Africa

continent. Huge loss.” — written by Ory Okolloh (Kenyan Lawyer & Activist) “In a time of such inequity, strife, apathy, political uncertainty and

“Komla was an inspirational figure for so many on this continent – a sharp, passionate, engaging, hugely influential journalist. We miss him deeply.”

betrayal of electorate in many countries, his genuine concern and

— Andrew Harding, BBC

passion for the affairs of the continent was ablaze. Komla Dumor was an African star on the ascendancy. I pray that even in death

“It was the voice I heard first - a deep, treacly warm bass filled with

he has awakened the same passion for the crucial issues that

laughter and energy - as he walked into the studio. Miked up and

affect our continent in many more people. Our prayers are with his

joking with the floor manager he appeared - eyes twinkling behind

family. Rest in peace.”

his thick rimmed glasses - and dressed immaculately - as always - in

— written by Dr. Ezanetor A Rawlings (Daughter of Jerry John Rawlings)

a 3 piece suit with a pocket handkerchief. We shook hands, cracked jokes, and smiled at each other. What charisma he had. What a force of nature. What a star. “

“A warm, generous, larger than life person with an infectious

— Tim Willcox, BBC

laugh. Every new kid on the block has someone who reaches out to them, thank you for being one of those special people, Komla.

“I didn’t know Komla well, I was just one of hundreds of BBC

You brightened my early, lonely days at the BBC. Many thanks.”

colleagues. But that’s the point about Komla – even under the

— Yalda Hakam (BBC) “It was an honour to have known such a beautiful soul. I’ve been robbed of an amazing friend, a mentor and my ‘Chale’. Johannesburg will never be the same without you. Kufa awunamahloni death be not true.” — Nomsa Maseko (BBC) “I’ll always remember his great smile, his huge love of life and how he treated people he just met as if they had been friends for years. He’ll be greatly missed”

greatest pressure, his composure and geniality never wavered, he carried on being a complete gentleman to everyone on the team, high or low, and left me with an enduring impression of a happy, dedicated man who made everyone around him happier. No hyperbole: he was a rare man, and my thoughts are with his family and close friends.” — John Machin, Studio Manager (BBC) “The most natural communicator, the warmest human being. And he didn’t even seem to have to try!” — David Eades, BBC World News

— Rob Brown, Broadcast Journalist (BBC) CELEBRATION OF LIFE - KOMLA AFEKE DUMOR

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