Mae Azango
Mae Azango is one of the best known reporters in Liberia. Her dedication to telling the stories of ordinary Liberians in FrontPage Africa newspaper has won her acclaim in Liberia and around the world. Since joining New Narratives as one of our first "fellows" in 2010, Mae has broken many stories and taboos. In 2012, Mae was forced to go into hiding after her report on the practice of female genital cutting by Liberia’s traditional societies brought death threats. Eventually, government ministers and traditional leaders came forward for the first time to denounce threats against journalists and female genital cutting. The practice was finally banned by President Sirleaf in 2018. Mae’s courageous reporting was rewarded with the 2012 International Press Freedom awards, from the Committee to Protect Journalists and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Mae is currently NN's Africa director. She is committed to being a voice for the voiceless.