Eyder Peralta
Eyder Peralta is NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya.
He is responsible for covering the region's people, politics, and culture. In a region that vast, that means Peralta has hung out with n omadic herders in northern Kenya, witnessed a historic transfer of power in Angola, ended up in a South Sudanese prison, and covered the twists and turns of Kenya's 2017 presidential elections.
Previously, he covered breaking news for NPR, where he covered everything from natural disasters to the national debates on policing and immigration.
Peralta joined NPR in 2008 as an associate producer. Previously, he worked as a features reporter for the Houston Chronicle and a pop music critic for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, FL.
Through his journalism career, he has reported from more than a dozen countries and he was part of the NPR teams awarded the George Foster Peabody in 2009 and 2014. His 2016 investigative feature on the death of Philando Castile was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists and the Society for News Design.
Peralta was born amid a civil war in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. His parents fled when he was a kid, and the family settled in Miami. He's a graduate of Florida International University.
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Kenya is going after corruption and cleaning up the banks of the polluted and increasingly blocked Nairobi River. The government is tearing down malls, hotels, restaurants — anything deemed illegal.
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In July, the countries declared the war was over; a couple of months later, they opened their border for the first time in almost 20 years. Some analysts caution big changes are coming too quickly.
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Ethiopia is going through a historic transformation. The country has welcomed a new reformist leader, forged peace with Eritrea and opened up a democratic space after decades of authoritarian rule.
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Ethiopia has stunned the world with its reforms. Eritreans face steep challenges if they want to follow suit.
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Ethiopia's recent changes are due largely to an uprising by young men from the largest ethnic group, the Oromo. Their inspiration: Jawar Mohammed, who created a media network in exile in Minnesota.
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A reporter's notebook from our correspondent in Kenya on finding a cobra in his backyard
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After years of devastating civil war and broken peace deals, South Sudan is at a crossroads again. While many displaced refugees are still afraid to return home, others see big reasons for hope.
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China has become the biggest lender on the African continent. The Nairobi-to-Mombasa railway is a symbol of Kenya's ambitions. But critics say China is saddling Kenya with unsustainable debt.
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First lady Melania Trump is in Kenya visiting orphanages for children as well as for elephants. Her trip has focuses on issues affecting conservation and children and families.
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In the hopes of becoming an Oscar contender, the Kenyan film board allowed the movie to play in Nairobi for a week. Director Wanuri Kahiu sees it as the beginning of a fight for freedom of expression.