German Language and Literatures

Hadija Haruna-Oelker

Writer-in-Residence

Photo of of Hadija Haruna-Oelker
Courtesy of Hadija Haruna-Oelker

About Hadija Haruna-Oelker

Hadija Haruna-Oelker (she/her) is a prize-winning German author, journalist, essayist, moderator and lecturer. Haruna-Oelker writes and speaks regularly in print, broadcast, and electronic media about migration, race, racism, discrimination and the intersection of human identities. 

Ms. Haruna-Oelker’s work draws upon literary, historical, cultural, political, and sociological methodologies. She is the author of Die Schönheit der Differenz—miteinander anders denken [The beauty of difference–think differently together] (btb-Verlag, 2022), which was nominated for the Preis der Leipziger Buchmesse in 2022. 

Ms. Haruna-Oelker's primary work is at the public radio station, Hessischer Rundfunk, as an editor for radio-background shows like "Der Tag." Together with author Max Czollek, Hadija Haruna-Oelker hosts the S. Fischer-Verlag sponsored podcast, Trauer & Turnschuh. Conversations to explore “the emotional after-hour of the past.” The monthly podcasts address those aspects of history that have been repressed and forgotten, a critical examination of German culture of remembrance.

She anchors the online roundtable, “Feminist press round: we can do it differently,” organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and as well the debate platforms, “Die Streitbar” at the Anne Frank educational center and at the Frankfurt Römerberg Talks. Additionally, she is a columnist for the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper and has written articles for Die Zeit, Der Tagespiegel and other periodicals. 

Ms. Haruna-Oelker looks forward to engaging with Oberlin students and faculty members on issues of language, cultural narratives, diversity, racism and inclusion. Her focus is the reading and writing of texts under the heading "Together.“

Web site (in German)

  • Diplomstudium in Political Science at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt; minors in Economics, African Studies and Sociology; thesis: “Gender and poverty reduction: The development concepts of SAP and PRSP using the case study of Ghana” (2006)

  • Research Associate in Political Sociology at the Goethe- Universität Frankfurt, with a focus on research into developing countries in africa (2007-08)

  • Traineeship at the Berlin School of Journalism. Theoretical training in print, online, radio, and TV. Practical work: Deutsche Press Agentur Johannesburg, South Africa; Hessischer Rundfunk; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Sunday; Der Tagesspiegel (2008-09) 

  • Qualification program in moderation at the Institute for Moderation at the Stuttgart Media University in cooperation with the Südwest Rundfunk (2014-15)

  • Author of Die Schönheit der Differenz—miteinander anders denken (btb-Verlag, 2022)

  • Co-editor of Spiegelblicke–Perspectives of the Black Movement in Germany (Orlanda, 2016)

  • 2021: “Medienspiegel” special prize for transparent journalism for the radio-feature “Decolonize yourself! – The public service media and the migration society” published at Deutschlandfunk. The prize was awarded by the daily newspaper initiative. This feature was also nominated for the alternative media prize. 

  • Since 2019: Member of the jury for the Hessian Integration Prize

  • 2019: Member of the jury for the Tony-Sender-Prize in Frankfurt am Main

  • 2016: Co-winner of the Aeternitas media prize "Cemetery Today" for the broadcast "The cemetery in the age of digital immortality" at the daily Show "Der Tag" (Program hr2)

  • 2015: Winner of the ARD Radio Prize Kurt-Magnus

  • 2014: Research and networking grant as part of the US State Department's "International Visitors Leadership Program" (IVLP) in the USA. Topic: "America's Multi-Ethnic Society and the Role of the Successor"

  • 2012: Winner of the KAUSA media prize "Make them visible - educational paths of migrants" for a radio-portrait series "YOU FM celebrates 50 years of Turks in Germany," awarded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

  • 2009: Journalist grant from the International Journalist Program (IJP) for a research trip to South Africa and Kenya