Behind The Sparkle: The Blood Diamond trade by NID

This project explores the history and ongoing realities of the blood diamond trade in Africa, using tools like QGIS or Mapbox to create an interactive web article.

Diamonds, symbols of love and luxury, form deep within the Earth over billions of years, making them rare and expensive. Lab-grown diamonds, created in weeks under controlled conditions, are less costly but lack the historical and traditional allure of natural diamonds, which continue to grow in demand at a rate of 4.4% annually.

Historically, during colonialism, African diamonds were mined by enslaved workers and transported to European nations like the UK, France, Belgium, and Portugal. Today, much of Africa's diamond mining remains illegal, with workers earning as little as $0.07 per day. These illicitly mined diamonds fund civil wars and the illegal arms trade, with devastating consequences for those who resist—often facing mutilation or death.

The smuggling process erases the diamonds' origins, as they are refined, cut, and polished before being sold in high-end global markets. This narrative highlights the lack of accountability and transparency in the diamond industry and how the industry functions using cartography.