Ninka Mbaye
Documentary Presenter & Producer
London / Johannesburg
Summary
Bilingual (French-English) documentary presenter, journalist and producer with over a decade of experience creating broadcast and digital content across Europe, Francophone Africa and Anglophone Africa. Experienced in developing, producing and presenting immersive, character-driven stories for international broadcasters including CNN, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, Canal+ and TRACE.
Most recently, self-funded, presented and produced the investigative documentary Durban: Survival in South Africa's Dangerous Metropolis for DW, which reached over 400,000 YouTube views and generated more than 3 million views across social media. Currently building an independent documentary platform focused on raw, human-centred storytelling, while continuing to work across broadcast and digital media.
Specialising in access-driven documentaries, investigative storytelling, and complex social issues, with extensive experience working both editorially and on camera.
Overview
2
2
Languages
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder / Presenter / Producer
LAYERS by NINKA
06.2025 - Current
- Founder, presenter, and producer of an independent YouTube-led documentary platform releasing monthly character-driven films. The platform explores raw, immersive human stories through participatory and gonzo-style journalism, focusing on people navigating the margins of society.
- Concept development, editorial direction, and on-camera presentation
- Field producing, filming, and long-form storytelling
- Digital-native documentaries (10–45 mins) optimised for YouTube
- Topics filmed across the UK and South Africa
- Audience-first distribution strategy across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok
Producer / Presenter
CNN
10.2016 - Current
- Producer and on-air presenter for CNN’s flagship African programming, including Inside Africa, African Voices and Marketplace Africa.
- Field producing stories across West, and Southern Africa, and UK
- Developing character-led features and investigative segments
- Guest presenter on Inside Africa (2024), hosting a documentary episode on the global rise of Amapiano music
- Based primarily in Senegal, producing across the continent
Television Presenter / Producer
DW Akademie
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Self-funded, presented and produced the investigative documentary Durban: Survival in South Africa’s Dangerous Metropolis.
- Commissioned by DW and broadcast on television
- Translated into four languages
- 400,000+ YouTube views
- Viral Instagram clip reaching 3M views
- Character-led investigation into private security and violent crime in South Africa
Field Producer
The Guardian
05.2024 - 05.2024
- Field producer for a Guardian documentary investigating the dangers of illegal immigration routes in Dakar.
Presenter / Producer
TRACE
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Presenter and producer for TRACE’s flagship show CODE, a 10-part series on Afro-urban culture.
- Interviews with international artists including CKay, The Black Eyed Peas, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Fireboy and Chloe Bailey
- Managed international production teams across multiple territories
- Developed editorial strategy and new formats that enhanced show's engagement and relevance
- Led international production teams across multiple territories, ensuring cohesive execution of creative vision
Education
Master’s Degree - Broadcast Journalism
Goldsmiths, University of London
01-2016
Bachelor’s Degree - Sociology
University of Nottingham
01-2013
Skills
Field producer
On-camera presentation
Documentary production
Media reporting
Visual storytelling
Character-driven storytelling
Content development
Content strategy
Digital content
Social media strategy
Cross-platform distribution
Production coordination
Visual storytelling
Broadcast journalism
Visual storytelling
Timeline
Founder / Presenter / Producer
LAYERS by NINKA
06.2025 - Current
Television Presenter / Producer
DW Akademie
09.2024 - 12.2024
Field Producer
The Guardian
05.2024 - 05.2024
Presenter / Producer
TRACE
10.2019 - 06.2022
Producer / Presenter
CNN
10.2016 - Current
Master’s Degree - Broadcast Journalism
Goldsmiths, University of London
Bachelor’s Degree - Sociology
University of Nottingham