Tributes as world mourns Shaka Ssali passing
Seeking refuge in the United States, Ssali returned to education, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in Cross-Cultural Communications at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The world is mourning a Ugandan journalist they loved to watch on their television as he told stories from Africa. Shaka Ssali, 71, has died. After many decades working at Voice of America in the US, Ssali retired and was living a quiet life.
Many remember him as the host who gave life to Voice of America’s Straight Talk Africa, a new programme relaying news content from across Africa. On the show, he tackled some of the most pressing issues on the continent, especially politics, corruption and human rights.
Ssali’s unique style, which blended wit, humour, and intellectual curiosity, made him a beloved figure among audiences. He had a rare ability to connect with people from all walks of life, from heads of state to ordinary citizens.
Ssali was born in Kabale, South Western Uganda, where he went to school before joining the national army and fleeing to exile in the US. In the US, he returned to school to study journalism and communication. After graduation, he started life as a journalist at Voice of America.
