Al-Qalam 
Headed by prominent British journalist Dilly Hussain, the new digital platform aims to report on global affairs affecting the Ummah, writes Neelam Rahim
Well-known UK-based journalist, Dilly Hussain, has relocated to South Africa to set up One Nation Media, a global digital platform whose mission is to fight Islamophobia and anti-Muslim narratives.
Before joining One Nation Media, he co-founded 5Pillars in 2013, which grew into one of the largest independent Muslim news platforms in the West, and hosted the widely followed Blood Brothers Podcast, known for in-depth conversations on politics, identity and faith.
His appointment comes after more than a decade in Muslim digital journalism, during which he built a profile covering major political and humanitarian developments across the Muslim world, alongside long-form media and commentary.
Hussain has reported from several regions affected by conflict and political transition, including Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American and NATO forces, the floods in Bangladesh in 2021, and post-Assad developments in Syria. He also covered global reactions to the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020.
Speaking to Al-Qalam, Hussain said his identity is shaped beyond journalism.
“Beyond journalism, I’m a husband, father of two young daughters, and someone whose life has been shaped by faith, family and a strong sense of purpose,” he said.
He was raised in Bedford, a town north-east of London, in a British-Bangladeshi working-class family. Growing up in post-9/11 Britain, he said, shaped how he understood the representation of Muslims in mainstream media.
“Journalism became more than a profession for me; it became a responsibility,” Hussain said.
Before joining One Nation Media, he co-founded 5Pillars, which grew into one of the UK’s most recognised independent Muslim news platforms. He also hosted the widely followed Blood Brothers Podcast, known for in-depth conversations on politics, identity and faith.
His move to South Africa marks a new chapter after years of UK-based media work.
“After more than a decade helping build 5Pillars in the UK, I felt there was space for a new kind of Islamic digital media platform rooted in civilisational journalism and confident in articulating an Islamic worldview without apology,” he said.
“There is a strong intellectual and activist tradition here, particularly around Palestine, social justice and anti-colonial struggles,” Hussain said.
He also noted the importance of South Africa’s press environment in supporting independent media work.
The relocation has also been a personal transition, involving his young family adapting to a new country.
“Relocating a young family to another country is never easy, especially leaving behind loved ones and familiar surroundings,” he said. “But South Africans have been incredibly warm and welcoming, and my family and I have genuinely felt embraced.”
For Hussain, much of his worldview has been shaped by witnessing how Muslim stories are framed globally and the need for independent platforms.
“If Muslims did not build their own platforms and tell their own stories, others would continue defining us,” he said.
Now stepping into his role as Executive Editor at One Nation Media, Hussain says the aim is to build a platform that goes beyond conventional reporting.
“My vision for One Nation Media is to help build a serious Islamic digital media platform rooted in journalistic integrity, intellectual confidence and civilisational clarity,” he said.
The platform aims to produce journalism, documentaries, debates, podcasts and analysis that not only report events, but explain their meaning and context.
“The platform is grounded in an Islamic civilisational lens rooted in faith, morality and justice, rather than purely secular frameworks,” he said.
For Hussain, the need for such platforms reflects a broader gap in global media representation.
“Muslims are hungry for authenticity. People can sense when content is sanitised, performative or disconnected from their lived realities,” he said.
As he settles into his new role in South Africa, his focus is on building a sustainable media institution that connects African Muslim narratives with wider global conversations.
His arrival signals the beginning of a new chapter in independent Muslim media collaboration between the UK and South Africa, rooted in storytelling, identity, and purpose.
