Hamid Barrada, a Moroccan journalist and intellectual, has died at the age of 87. He was born in 1939 in Tangier and entered political life early, joining the Union nationale des étudiants du Maroc (UNEM) and becoming its president in 1962. Barrada's activism led to a death sentence in absentia in 1963, forcing him into clandestinity and exile in Algeria and later France. He was not allowed to return to Morocco until 1978.
Barrada turned to journalism after being trained in philosophy, law, and political sociology. He joined the Paris weekly Jeune Afrique as a grand reporter and later served as its editor-in-chief from 1974 to 1985. He also directed the Maghreb and Middle East desk of the francophone channel TV5 and presented "Mais Encore?" on 2M from 2007 to 2018. The long-format program featured leading political, economic, and cultural figures.
Barrada held a singular place in Morocco's press history as the only Moroccan journalist to interview the late King Hassan II. The encounter was organized in 1985 for a Canadian television production and focused on Morocco's Western Sahara. He also interviewed a wide range of political and intellectual figures, including Abderrahmane Youssoufi, Abdallah Laroui, and Rached Ghannouchi.
Barrada's engagement extended beyond reporting. In 2004, he testified before the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, as his father had been a victim of abduction and forced disappearance. He also taught at university until his retirement and published the first volume of his "Anthologie des entretiens" in 2025, a work gathering exchanges conducted between 1977 and 2012.
Journalist Taoufik Bouachrine called Barrada "the dean of Moroccan journalists" in a tribute honoring his career and human qualities. Abdellah Touarbi described Barrada as a meticulous interviewer who prepared each conversation for days and hours. Touarbi noted that Barrada lived with honesty and never grew rich from journalism, despite his personal ties to top officials.
Barrada's legacy is marked by his integrity and dedication to journalism. He spent his final years in a small apartment in Casablanca, surrounded by his books, cats, and memories. His daughter, Yto Barrada, is the founder of the Cinémathèque de Tanger.
Colleagues and admirers have paid tribute to Barrada's life and work. He will be buried after the Al Asr prayer at the Arrahma cemetery, following a life that spanned more than half a century of Morocco's political and media life.
Key points
- Hamid Barrada was the only Moroccan journalist to interview King Hassan II.
- Barrada's career spanned more than half a century, during which he interviewed numerous leading figures.
- He was known for his integrity and dedication to journalism.
