Veteran journalist and broadcaster Shaka Ssali, renowned for hosting Voice of America’s (VOA) “Straight Talk Africa,” has passed away at the age of 71. He died on March 27, 2025, in Virginia, USA, just two weeks shy of his 72nd birthday.
Born in Kabale District, Uganda, Ssali’s early education was at Kikungiri Primary School and Kigezi High School. He later moved to the United States in 1976, where he pursued higher education, earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Cross-Cultural Communications from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Ssali’s career at VOA spanned several decades, during which he became the inaugural host of “Straight Talk Africa” in 2000. The program engaged African leaders, analysts, and citizens in critical discussions on democracy, governance, and development. His signature opening line, “I’m profoundly honored and exceedingly humbled,” became a hallmark of the show.
Throughout his career, Ssali received numerous accolades, including a United Nations Peacekeeping Special Achievement Award in International Journalism and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) in September 2024. He was also a former Ford Foundation fellow.
The cause of his death has not been officially disclosed, but reports indicate he had been battling undisclosed health complications since the previous year.
Shaka Ssali’s passing marks the end of an era in African journalism, leaving behind a legacy of insightful reporting and unwavering commitment to press freedom.
