Table Series: Raed Hammoud
The Niger connection...
Raed's story is a captivating one, illustrating just how interconnected our world can be. In the early 2000s, a series of chance events brought Raed, my brother Bill, a mutual friend named Jack, and myself to Niamey, Niger, around the same time. Well I’m gonna have to rewind a little bit.
© Photos by Philippe Nyriimihigo - 2023
It all began when Isabel, a colleague of Raed, reached out in December 2022 expressing interest in being featured in a documentary. After a series of emails, tv host and storyteller Raed took the plane with Isabel, Xavier, and Guillaume embarking on a journey across the African continent to capture inspiring stories that would shape Africa's promising future. Originally hailing from Montreal, Canada, Raed and I started sharing our life experiences, particularly how we had both explored different corners of the world. To our surprise, we discovered that we had been in Niger around the same time in the early 2000s.
Raed didn’t initially have an interest in telling stories through documentaries despite a general interest in the medium. While completing his university degree in development studies, one of his final assignments required him to create a documentary about his homeland, Lebanon. However, fate had other plans for him. Despite applying and receiving approval to start filming, a war erupted, shattering his project.
Undeterred, Raed displayed remarkable tenacity. He reached out to his supervisor, who recommended that he apply to Radio Canada. With a background in music, Raed quickly found his place in the studio. He persevered within the organization, steadily climbing the ranks. The Arab Spring thrust him into the spotlight, allowing him to provide contextualized perspectives from his native region. Yet, Raed soon realized that to truly convey these stories, he needed to be in FRONT of the camera.
© Photos by Philippe Nyriimihigo - 2023
Later on and amidst uncertainty about his next career move, Raed picked up a blank piece of paper and wrote down a simple phrase: "Demain L'Afrique." The continent that had nurtured him was often portrayed negatively in the media, including in Canada, and he was determined to change that narrative. The series is set to be released today on TV5, so be sure to tune in!
Fate had it that the last episode was in Rwanda with me, symbolizing the powerful potential for transformation and storytelling that our platforms represent, making it the perfect culmination of our shared journey.
Ladies and gentlemen, Raed.
