HumAngle Media was launched in March 2020 with the promise of answering the challenge of providing a critical and unique narrative to support vulnerable populations, drive public awareness, and illustrate the impacts of insecurity on everyday people.
Starting with the extensive coverage of conflict and terrorism in the northeast of Nigeria, journalist and conflict and terrorism reporters, Ahmad Salkida and Obiora Chukwumba co-founded HumAngle Media to tell the stories of insecurity in Africa with African voices and the required expertise, now it is the leading source of on conflict across Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad and Sahel regions.
In its about five years of existence, Humangle has not only redefined the media narratives of conflicts and insecurity in Africa, but it is also leading with innovative storytelling, expertly employing various media storytelling technologies and techniques to bring insightful and interactive African stories to media audiences.
Humangle’s use of text, visual, and audio media in all its varying forms and combinations can be emulated by other media houses. From the production of sharp and insightful news analyses and articles to the visual storytelling of images and illustrations to the production of audio podcasts, video explainers, and documentaries, conflict journalism outfits invest a lot in immersive storytelling for their audience.
The outfit also employs cutting-edge data and digital investigation tools to dig more information and provide deeper insights and context to stories being told. One of such many ventures is the investigation of the victims of extrajudicial killings and clandestine mass burials by the Nigerian army in the fight against insurgents in the northeast which won the Sigma Award for best data journalism around the world in 2023.
The investigation employed the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Open Source Intelligence techniques(OSINT) coupled with traditional journalism investigation to track and reveal the location of mass graves of victims of extrajudicial killings. Reports on the Facebook Network Using Prophecies And Disinformation To Swindle Nigerians, and the investigation into fundraising activities fuelling separatist violence in Southeastern Nigeria, displayed how the Humans at HumAngle employs digital investigation tools for their reports. This is just as impeccable storytelling and reporting capabilities were displayed to drive home critical messages in other stories like that of Falmata’s femicide in Bama, the plight of trafficked Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigerian workers in Mali’s gold mining industry financing terrorism in Africa.
The media outfit also employs the use of artificial intelligence tools and virtual reality technology in its storytelling workflow cementing its position, despite its few years of existence, as one of the leading media outfits investing a lot in storytelling technologies in the country as it frontlines the use of cutting edge technology and global standards of storytelling to push the African narrative.
After attending the Humangle Showcase in November 2024, Samuel Ojo, a documentary filmmaker wrote on LinkedIn, “Earlier today, I attended The HUMANGLE Showcase, and it was an eye-opener. From watching a VR documentary that transported me to Maiduguri right from Abuja to experiencing a beautiful podcast session that tells real-life stories, it was such a unique way to connect with stories on a deeper level.
It’s amazing to see how innovation, technology, and even AI are redefining the media space. These tools are helping us tell stories in ways that feel more real, engaging, and impactful—making sure the message hits differently.”
Another attendee, Opeolu Adeyemi, wrote, “When the human story is told in truth, especially one that pulls at the strings of the heart of resilience, hope, survival and strength, we often have to pause and truly listen.
The HumAngle showcase took me down memory lane, reminding me of some of my field engagements”
While Humangle Media is leading with the innovative use of technology in the media storytelling process, the outfit can open up more partnerships and collaboration with other newsrooms in the country to facilitate resource sharing, expand best practices and build a better Nigerian media ecosystem.
READ MORE FOCUS REPORT : Dataphyte: House of Data