African Leadership Academy was pleased to host Dr. Shaka Ssali in October. Dr. Ssali a respected broadcaster and influential commentator on African affairs. He serves as Host and Senior Editor of Straight Talk Africa, a radio talk-show on Voice of America. Dr. Ssali spoke on the topic of Africa’s Renaissance: Leadership, Governance, Media, and the Truth, a topic that is both wide-ranging and full of passion. Students peppered him with questions from across the political and ethnic spectrum. The discussion continued will beyond the auditorium, as students gathered around Dr. Ssali as they walked to the dining hall. There, he also socialized with the students and faculty, allowing for a continuation of the dialogue in a more informal setting.
With twenty years of reporting experience, Mr. Ssali has interviewed hundreds of influential and interesting people, including more than fifteen African heads-of-state. A native of Uganda, Dr. Ssali is also a managing editor for the Voice of America’s “English-to-Africa” service. He supervises the work of staff reporters who produce four hours of radio programming daily. Mr. Ssali is also an analyst on VOA’s Africa Journal program.
Previous broadcasting positions held by Mr. Ssali include Deputy Director of Radio Unamir in Kigali, Rwanda; Regional Editor for Eastern Africa at VOA; Film and Television Producer for the New York State Public Broadcasting Co.; and Writer, Presenter and Editor for Sauti za Africa a radio program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
