The inaugural class, Kwibuka, of the Bloomberg Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI) Fellowship is mourning the passing of their classmate, award-winning journalist and author Ufrieda Ho, who recently succumbed after a long and brave battle with illness.
Ufrieda was widely admired for her gift of storytelling — her ability to illuminate the human condition with empathy, clarity, and purpose. Whether through journalism, literature, or photography, she captured the nuances of everyday life with depth and sensitivity. Her work reflected a profound curiosity about people and a commitment to telling stories that mattered.
But beyond her professional accomplishments, those who encountered her through the fellowship remember something even more enduring: her gentle spirit, thoughtful insight, and the quiet warmth she brought to every conversation.
Classmate and Editor-in-Chief at NewzroomAfrika, Mapi Mhlangu, reflected on the personal loss felt by many in the fellowship community.
“In her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama writes about the quiet, lingering weight of grief: ‘It hurts to live after someone has died. It just does. Music hurts, and so do memories… Grief is so lonely this way.’
“When I heard about the passing of Ufrieda, I experienced a kind of grief mixed with regret — the kind that comes when you realise time quietly slipped by.
“I met Ufrieda through the Bloomberg ALI Fellowship more than a decade ago. We developed a quiet friendship, not defined by constant contact or daily conversations, but by meaningful moments — occasional chats about health, food, and even my adoption process. Those conversations were simple, warm, and sincere.
“Somewhere along the way, life became busy and I stopped those quarterly check-ins. So when I saw the message in our WhatsApp group announcing her passing, I was devastated.
“I went back to our exchanges and found some of the most beautiful photographs she had taken — snapshots of joy, curiosity and a way of seeing the world that felt deeply alive. Those moments reminded me of the quiet kindness that defined her.
“Rest in peace, Ufrieda. May your passing remind all of us in this fellowship community of the importance of checking in on one another — not someday, not when life slows down, but now.”
For many fellows, the bonds formed during the programme have extended far beyond the classroom. What began as a shared leadership journey has evolved into a network of friendships that span continents, professions and seasons of life.
Fellow classmate Ingrid Martens recalled the impact Ufrieda had during the fellowship.
“The news of Ufrieda’s passing is deeply heartbreaking. I had the privilege of getting to know her during the Bloomberg ALI Media Fellowship Programme, where her gentle spirit and thoughtful insight left a lasting impression. She was a gifted storyteller, fascinated by the human condition and committed to telling stories with insight, purpose and care. Her voice and presence will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.”
From Zambia, fellow alumna Teldah Mawarire shared a memory that captured Ufrieda’s attentiveness and kindness.
“Ufrieda came to my house after I gave birth to see me and the baby in 2016. She was ever so concerned and insisted gently that she would come only when I was ready for visitors. She checked in often even after I moved to Zambia. She was a lovely person. I will miss her greatly.”
Charles Ike-Okoh wrote: “The Nigerian crew sends their condolences and remembers her as that amiable fellow Fellow. I have hardly stopped thinking of the moments we’re shared talking journalism and much more. She is very missed by all.”
Kevin Ritchie said: “Ufrieda, as my classmates attest was someone who left an impression on all she met. She was a person with a great capacity to love and care, buttressed with a core of steel, upholding the principles she held so dear. She represented the very best of all of us.”
More than eleven years after the Kwibuka class first gathered as fellows, Ufrieda’s passing reminds us of the deeper purpose of the ALI network. These programmes are designed not only to sharpen leadership, but also to build communities of trust — relationships meant to endure long after the seminars and convenings are over.
Ufrieda Ho’s voice may be gone, but the stories she told, the kindness she shared, and the connections she nurtured will continue to live on in the community she helped shape.
