Henriette Ekwe Ebongo is regarded as one of the most influential female journalists in Cameroon. She’s spent a lifetime advancing press freedom, human rights, freedom of expression, good governance and gender equality. Henriette recently received the 2011 International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department.

Ekwe has many admirers, but she remains a thorn in the side of Cameroon president Paul Biya’s regime. We spoke to Henriette about her work while she was in town as a guest of WorldChicago, a not-for-profit dedicated to citizen diplomacy.