The FIBDA was established in Algiers, Algeria, in 2008.[2] It takes place in October annually under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture.[3][4] In 2011, French cartoonist Hervé Barulea became the president of the FIBDA.[5]
The focus of the FIBDA is the comic book industry.[3] It has annual themes - for instance, it was "Algiers, Balloons Bay" in 2009[4] and “Algiers, Bubbles Without Borders” in 2011.[1] Artists from different countries in addition to local artists participate in the events organized under the FIBDA.[1][6] Therefore, it is the major event in its category in pan Africa and Arab world with its huge number of international guests and its activities.[7] In the festival several bodies and publications focusing on comics from Africa are awarded.[1][8] One of the publications awarded is the Egyptian magazine Tok Tok.[8]