Born out of a desire to raise awareness of the history, arts, and ideas of the African continent, Hida Media was founded in 2022. Through articles, interviews, podcasts, and personal stories, the media outlet aims to reconnect people of African descent with their history and share well-researched narratives across generations and regions. With support from MansA Lab, its founders are currently working to structure the project and strengthen ties between the African diaspora and the continent.
By Selma Chougar
Published on January 30, 2026
They met by chance during an unlikely discussion on Clubhouse, right in the middle of lockdown. A conversation about “tie-up banana”—almost an anecdote—that would, however, lay the groundwork for a larger project. Modibo Touré and Bamby Diagne don’t know it yet, but this discussion would mark the beginning of HIDA Media—a media outlet born out of a shared need: the need for African stories told with rigor, depth, and intimacy.
Born in Dakar and arriving in France at the age of eight, Bamby Diagne grew up with an early passion for history. European dates, figures, and civilizations hold no secrets for him. But one thing is clear: he knows more about the history of France than that of his own continent. “I couldn’t name a single thing about Africa or my own country of origin,” he says. This frustration sparked a quest. He asked his parents questions, did his own research, and patiently pieced together the knowledge that had been denied him.
For Modibo Touré, the connection is forged through literature and film. Camara Laye’s *The Black Child*, which his father gave him, was a revelation. For the first time, he read the story of a Black child told from an African perspective. At home, Malian film classics fueled his imagination, even though this cultural heritage remained largely unheard of for a long time due to a lack of spaces to share it.
When their paths crossed in 2020, one thing became clear: they needed to talk about Africa—but in a different way. For months, they hosted discussions on Clubhouse structured around three themes—history, art, and philosophy—attracting a community eager for nuanced narratives. Then known as Histoires d’Afrique, the project reached its first turning point with a “room” dedicated to Voodoo. By deconstructing the myths and fears associated with this spiritual tradition, they realized the potential impact of an informed, uninhibited discourse.
As Clubhouse’s popularity waned, the project seemed to fizzle out—until a listener revived it. In 2022, the initiative officially relaunched under the name HIDA Media on Instagram, followed by a dedicated website. With analysis pieces, interviews, videos, podcasts, and feature stories, the media outlet was built with a clear mission—to reconnect people of African descent to their history, their continent, and themselves.
Beyond the digital world, HIDA Media is making its mark in the real world. Through *Rencontre avec nos anciens* (*Meeting with Our Elders*), Modibo and Bamby give a voice to the first waves of African migrants who arrived in France in the 1970s and 1980s. These stories of life, struggles, and the passing down of traditions are designed to serve as bridges between generations.
With support today from the MansA Lab incubator, they are shaping their project: to develop a leading media outlet on African issues in the French-speaking world while working to strengthen the connection between the diaspora and the continent. More than just a media outlet, HIDA Media sees itself as a bridge: a place where stories finally flow in the right direction.
