Zeinab Badawi

Zeinab Mohammed-Khair Badawi (; born 3 October 1959) is a Sudanese-British television and radio journalist, educator, civic activist, and writer. She was the first presenter of the ITV Morning News (later known as ITV News at 5:30), and co-presented Channel 4 News with Jon Snow from 1989 to 1998 before joining BBC News. Badawi was the presenter of World News Today broadcast on both BBC Four and BBC World News, and Reporters, a weekly showcase of reports from the BBC. In 2021, Badawi was appointed as president of SOAS University of London. Badawi serves on several civic boards and published her first book, An African History of Africa, in 2024.

Early life and education Badawi was born on 3 October 1959 in Khartoum, to a family of Arab and Ethiopian descent. Her great-grandfather, Babikr Bedri, fought against Kitchener's British forces at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898 and pioneered women's education in Sudan. Badawi's father, Mohammed-Khair El Badawi, was a newspaper editor in Sudan committed to social reform who, when the family moved to the UK, joined the BBC's Arabic Service. Having grown up with an Arabic-speaking family, Badawi speaks both Arabic and English fluently. She was educated at Hornsey High School for Girls in North London, before studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at St Hilda's College, Oxford. At Oxford, Badawi was a member of the Oxford University Broadcasting Society. In 1988, she moved back to London to pursue a full-time one-year MA degree in Middle East History and Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (her professors were P. J. Vatikiotis for politics, Malcolm Yapp for history and Richard Tapper and Nancy Tapper for anthropology), graduating with distinction in 1989. and broadcast journalist for Yorkshire TV from 1982 to 1986, during which time she also presented the weekly regional consumer advice show Help Yourself. Badawi co-presented Channel 4 News from 1989 until 1998 when she joined the BBC.

Badawi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in July 2011. Badawi has led an annual Nobel laureate discussion in connection with the Nobel festivities in Stockholm, Sweden. The programme is shown on Swedish television.

In 2017, Badawi hosted a nine-part series, The History of Africa, based on UNESCO's General History of Africa. The documentary series was broadcast in July and August 2017 on BBC World News.

Her first book, An African History of Africa, was published in April 2024. It was reviewed in The Guardian by Simukai Chigudu, who wrote: "Ambitious in scope and refreshing in perspective, the book stretches from the origins of Homo sapiens in east Africa through to the end of apartheid in South Africa. It is informed by interviews Badawi conducted with African scholars and cultural custodians, whose expertise, observations and wisdom are threaded through the book." It was shortlisted for the Nero Book Award.

Other activities International Crisis Group (ICG), Board of Trustees (since 2023) New College of the Humanities, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2011) National Portrait Gallery, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2004) British Council, Member of the Board of Trustees Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Member of the Council Royal Opera House, Member of the Board of Trustees Royal African Society (RAS), Chair (2014–2021)

Badawi is founder and chair of the Africa Medical Partnership Fund (AfriMed), a charity that aims to help local medical professionals in Africa.

In August 2018, she was awarded the President's Medal of the British Academy "for her contributions to international political journalism".

In November 2021, The Royal Africa Society conferred lifetime achievement award on Badawi for her outstanding contribution to Africa.

Personal life Badawi married David Crook in 1991. She lives in Belsize Park, north London.