Bach Hamba was born in 1881 into a family of Turkish origin; his brother, Ali Bach Hamba, was a co-founder of the Young Tunisians.[2][3] After travelling in Constantinople, in May, 1916, Bach Hamba launched the nationalist "Revue du Maghreb" in Geneva.[3] This monthly magazine aimed at calling for reforms in Tunisia and Algeria, amounting to equality for all under the French rule. However, copies that were sent to Tunisia were often confiscated due to its strong criticisms of the existing colonial order. The magazine, which was subsidized by Turkey, also went further and called for self-determination.[1] In 1918, Bach Hamba published a memoir under the title "Le peuple algéro-tunisien et la France" where he denounced the policy of "participation" with the French protectorate and argues for the independence of the Algerian-Tunisian people.