Komla Dumor from Ghana (his grandfather interestingly wrote Ghana's national anthem) with his deep baritone voice became the first presenter of Africa Business Report in 2009 on BBC World News.
On Friday Komla Dumor still presented Focus on Africa - which turned out to be his last - the BBC's first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African viewers on BBC World News.
Komla Dumor was married to Kwansema Dumor with whom he had three children.
On Saturday evening the BBC said in a press statement that "BBC News regrets to announce the death of the BBC Focus on Africa presenter, Komla Dumor".
"Komla Dumor was committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is," said Peter Horrocks said in a statement.
"Africa's energy and enthusiasm seemed to shine through every story Komla Dumor told. Komla Dumor's many friends and colleagues across Africa and the world will be as devastated as we are by this shocking news. The sympathies of all his colleagues at the BBC are with his family and friends."
A visible distraught Lyse Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent, who worked with Komla Dumor for a long time at BBC radio before he transitioned to TV news, wiped away tears on BBC World News on Saturday night and called Komla Dumor "a great colleague".
"Through the years we've often discussed journalism, the importance of tough, unflinching journalism, but also the importance of having a laugh and joining the passions of life."
"I will never forget meeting him in 2007 in Ghana, his native Ghana was marking its 50th anniversary of independence and he had just joined the BBC's Africa service. And everywhere he went there were these young journalists with him."
"And when one of these journalists came our way, I said, 'Oh, hello, are you working with Komla Dumor?' And I've never met Komla, then. And he said, "I'm in his entourage'. And then I've teased him ever since then that he always had an 'entourage'. And I even knew then that he was destined for greatness," said Lyse Doucet.
"When he came to Londen in 2008 to work in radio I thought my goodness Komla Dumor is made for television. And I went to our editor at the time at BBC World News TV and said you must put Komla Dumor on TV."
"And when it didn't happen, I went back and said Komla Dumor is a dear friend and colleague, put him on TV and we'll judge by the reaction of our audiences worldwide," said Lyse Doucet.
