Academic nominated to UK Black Stars 2026 list
30 March 2026
An academic at the forefront of AI and storytelling has been celebrated in the inaugural UK Black Stars 2026 list.
Dr David Dunkley Gyimah, a filmmaker and Reader / Associate Professor at the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, is one of 100 British Ghanaians named in the list, which recognises influential British Ghanaians making remarkable contributions in their fields.
Specialising in Innovation in Journalism & International News Reporting, AI and start-ups, Dr Gyimah is behind a global movement of Cinema Journalism, which blends factual cinema with advanced video journalism.
Over three-and-a-half-decades, his career has covered areas including innovative filmmaking; AI; television and radio in various position at Channel 4, WTN, BBC World Service, Radio 4, Breakfast and Newsnight as a reporter, political and news producer and video journalist.
He has been a creative director in advertising, launched or been involved in successful start start-ups such as Justgiving.com, and was a selected artist-in-residence at London's Southbank Centre.
In 2024, Dr Gyimah created the short: Chairman, the Ghanaian, about his father's generation that he presented to the British Screen Forum and Channel 4’s Board of Directors.
Dr Gyimah currently teaches on Cardiff’s MA International Journalism (MAIJ) programme leading in Foreign News Reporting (as a former freelance correspondent in South Africa (92-94), Emerging Journalism (aka Story Lab/ AI (2019-2024), as well delivering conceptual frameworks for MA dissertations in Information Gathering, and guiding students towards creating their final projects.
Dr Gyimah said: “To be nominated into the inaugural Black Stars list alongside a spectrum of public and well-known figures stops you in your tracks. It’s a huge honour.
“I've had times in my career that are pinch me moments, from reporting President Mandela's inauguration in South Africa, being the video journalist/filmmaker for Lennox Lewis vs Tyson and being the first Brit to win the US Knight Batten Award for Innovation in Journalism for my global site viewmagazine.tv. I’ve found over time that these events fade, and you just get on with what you're doing.
“But the impact of Ghanaian diasporans, particularly the generation after the war, like my parents, can sometimes be overlooked.”
UK Black Stars is a platform that highlights outstanding British-Ghanaians in the UK from all walks of life who demonstrate excellence, leadership, innovation, integrity, and impact across sectors.
To formally launch the UK Black Stars 2026 list – and marking Ghana’s 69th Independence Day - Dr Gyimah joined other nominees at a parliamentary reception at the Houses of Parliament.
For a relatively small group in the UK population, it is really something to see the contribution Ghanaians have made to UK society.
Dr Gyimah added: “I'm reminded of two sayings growing up in Ghana that I generally believe frames Ghanaians' ambitions and behaviour. Suban ni nimde3, which is a Twi (Ghanaian language saying) that pairs knowledge and good character as goals to inspire to. Do to others what you want them to do. Respect all and pay it forward.”
Others featuring on the 2026 list include:
- Adjoa Andoh, Actress
- Kanya King, MOBO Awards Founder
- Stormzy, Rapper
- Afua Kyei, Bank of England
- Idris Elba, Actor
- Kobbie Mainoo, Footballer
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