The World We Share: Meet Diaby Massiga

Diaby Massiga was born in Mali. Like many, he later decided to look for a better future in France. Today, he is the manager of an African grocery store located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, and a valued Ria agent, connecting with customers and helping families stay close no matter the distance.

In this new instalment of The World We Share, we explore Diaby’s journey from Mali to France—from leaving home and adapting to a new culture to building a life as a business owner and Ria agent. Watch the video at the end of the article to hear his full story.

Key Takeaways

• Diaby Massiga left Mali for France in search of better opportunities and built a new life through determination and hard work.
• Migration came with significant challenges, including complex administrative procedures, cultural adjustment, and being separated from his family.
• Maintaining close relationships with loved ones in Mali remains a priority, staying connected despite the distance.
• After starting his career as a chef, Diaby became a business owner, opening an African grocery store in Paris.
• His personal experience with remittances inspired him to become a Ria agent, making money transfers more accessible for customers and their families abroad.
• Reliable customer support and strong partnerships are key reasons Diaby enjoys working with Ria.
• Diaby’s journey highlights a lesson many migrants share: success abroad is less difficult when you have a clear goal, a plan, and the courage to pursue it.

Leaving Mali: The Start of a New Journey

Diaby was born in Mali, where he grew up alongside his siblings and parents. When asked about those years, he remembers a life centered around family. “When I was there, I was good,” he explains. “I was with my family, we were eating together, laughing together… Completely different from my life here.” But like thousands of others, Diaby decided to leave his home country and start a new life in France. “I made the decision to come to France because of the difficulties we have back home,” Diaby states. His experience reflects that of many Malians who have settled in France: in 2020, around 105,000 were residing in the country (OECD). For Diaby, the hardest part about leaving his country was leaving his parents. “This was difficult,” he recalls.

Diaby moved to France in 2009, where he began his career in the restaurant industry. “Originally, I’m a chef,” he explains. Overtime, he took the next step and opened his own restaurant. But his ambitions didn’t stop there. Diaby dreamed even bigger and developed a new project: opening an African grocery store. Today, he can proudly say he has achieved his goals: Diaby is the manager of “Au Panier de Mariame”, a grocery store full of African products, located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.

Adapting and Building a New Life in France

When he arrived in France in 2009, Diaby struggled with bureaucracy. According to our study The Currency of Caring, this is a very common experience. Indeed, 31,8% of migrants living in France agreed that administrative procedures were the biggest challenge they faced when arriving in the country. The process took Diaby a whole year. “But after this, it was all good,” he remembers. “I was able to get my diplomas, become a chef, and voilà!”

But the administrative aspect of migration wasn’t the only obstacle to overcome. When he arrived in France, Diaby experienced a real cultural shock. “In Mali, people get together a lot, for tea for example,” he explains. “But when I got here, it really shocked me that everybody stays in their home. They go from their house to their work, their work to their house. It was a real shock for me to always be locked in my house.”

And of course, homesickness was omnipresent. “When you come to France, you’re always thinking about back home,” Diaby reports. “You’re always thinking about your parents, your brothers, your sisters, because you used to always eat and laugh together.” To stay connected with family and friends back home, Diaby calls his loved ones. “I take the time to phone them, to tell them that everything is going well,” he explains. “Even if something is wrong, I tell them that everything is fine so they can be at ease.” Like so many migrants, Diaby lives between two worlds, his sense of self is torn between two places, communities and cultures.

Being a Ria agent

One day, while he was sitting with his brothers and sisters, Diaby noticed that his siblings were sending money often, and struggling to do so. “Therefore, when I had the opportunity to have this store, I had the idea to reach out to money transfer companies to work with them,” he explains. “So I called Ria.” On the phone, a Ria operator talked to Diaby and explained to him what a Ria agent does. Then, Ria employee Georges went to meet Diaby in person. “We signed a contract and since that day everything has been going well with Ria!” exclaims Diaby. He has been working as a Ria agent for the past 5 years.

For Diaby, a typical day at work involves selling African grocery products, selling necklaces he makes himself, and helping clients send money through Ria. “Money transfers are enormous throughout the day,” he explains. “So there are quite a few Ria clients.”

Diaby tells us how much he likes working with Ria. “I like working with Ria, because they are always there,” he explains. “If a transfer is blocked, we call them, they pick up the phone, and they fix the problem right away!” And the feeling is mutual: at Ria, we know how essential our agents are. Every day, they connect with customers, facilitate transactions, and help families stay close no matter the distance.

Looking Back on a Journey of Courage and Growth

What makes Diaby proud? “I’m proud of myself, of my journey, because I had the courage to pursue my projects”, he answers. “Before, I was working for people, but then I had the courage to change my life and be independent.” Diaby’s story reflects a motivation shared by many migrants. In our study, 29% of African migrants said they left their country to improve their economic situation, making it the most commonly cited reason among respondents from the continent. Another 26,1% said they migrated in search of better job opportunities.

When asked for advice for those who want to migrate like he did, Diaby tells us about the importance of having a plan. “My advice is to have a goal, a project before you leave,” he explains. “You really have to think about it.” Indeed, migrating often comes with a complex mix of emotions. Pursuing economic and professional opportunities abroad comes with both excitement and sadness, hope and fear, dreams and loss. It’s important to make this decision knowing what it entails.

Before we wrap up, Diaby tells us: “Ria, you’re doing a great job, because thanks to you clients are able to send money to their parents, their brothers, their wives… So I’m happy to work with you!”

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