Memkoro Touré, a dual citizen of France and Mali, splits his time between the two countries. His ambitions extend beyond Mali and he dreams of a brighter future for all of Africa. Born in France fifty years ago, Touré first set foot in Mali in the 1990s. With him, he brought an innovative idea: a mobile bakery designed to deliver fresh, high-quality bread to the people of Bamako. The concept was an instant hit.

Memkoro Touré is a passionate entrepreneur who grew up in France. Motivated by a desire to bring change through innovation, he arrived on the banks of the *Djoliba with a development project. However, he quickly ran into challenges and setbacks. Undeterred, he came up with a new idea i.e a mobile bakery called “100 Complexes”. He mounted a wood-fired oven on a tricycle and began travelling from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, bringing fresh bread directly to his customers.

This system means that consumers no longer need to travel far to find bread, instead, the bread now comes to them. The people of Bamako have embraced the idea, finding it both practical and innovative. For Touré, now in his fifties, it has also proven to be a sustainable and profitable business model. In addition to maintaining a direct connection with his customers, he sidesteps the high costs associated with renting commercial space.

Touré, a trained pastry chef, takes pride in using only local ingredients in his bread. His customers can choose from a variety of loaves made with millet, sorghum, cassava, groundnut and wheat flour, among others. For more than twelve years, he has built a loyal clientele and currently earns around 250,000 FCFA per month (approximately 381 euros).

His culinary skills have earned him a solid reputation, leading to frequent requests to cater private and professional events such as weddings and birthdays. Beyond bread, his menu features pizzas, hamburgers, `mechouis`, and sandwiches – all prepared with a distinctive touch. His customers value the authenticity and originality of his wares.

But after more than twelve years in Mali, Touré was eventually forced to return to France. The country’s unstable political climate had led many of his customers, especially expatriates, to leave, causing a significant downturn in his business. The environment was no longer conducive to his entrepreneurial efforts. Yet, despite these challenges, the bakery continues to operate successfully, thanks to the new generation of bakers Touré trained before his departure.

Today, the pastry chef is channeling his energy into a new mission i.e.co-development. His goal is to mobilise the diaspora to contribute to projects that will shape the future of their homelands!

Touré has understood why so many young Malians dream of migrating to France:  the pursuit of a better life, the allure of quick wealth and the influence of global trends. Yet for him, life abroad feels unfulfilling. “I devote my time and energy to things that aren’t very useful,” he says. “In Mali, that same effort would have more impact.” He pauses, then adds with emotion, “I miss Mali so much. I want to go back there as soon as possible.”

Although he now lives in France, Touré still hopes to return to Mali one day to help improve the living conditions of his compatriots. Yet his vision reaches far beyond national borders. “I dream of re-enchanting Africa,” he finally decided.

*Name given to the River Niger flowing through Mali.