Welcome to the homepage of the podcast series:
“Backway to Europe. Talking borders and migration with Gambians on the move.”
In the last decade, countless young people have left the small West African country of Gambia in the hope of reaching Europe to build a better life. Facing complex economic and political realities at home, they have embarked on this challenging journey, confronting the dangers of what is called the "backway," the illegalized route to Europe.
In this podcast, you will hear the stories of Gambians on the move in a world of unjust borders and their reflections on the impact of the European migration regime on the lives of those affected.
The series consists of 11 episodes and is divided into two parts:
In the first part, you will hear the voices of the members of Youth Against Irregular Migration, an advocacy organization based in the Gambia, founded by a group of young migrants who met in a detention center in Libya. We will discuss the importance of migration in Gambia, the expectations regarding Europe, visa regimes, and the violence caused by the externalization of European border policies.
In the second part, the dialogue continues with activists from the Gambian community in Berlin, exploring asylum and reception policies, everyday and institutional racism, deportations, and the various forms of social and civic engagement they are involved in.
If you are looking for a different perspective on border and migration policies, join us on this journey. Listen to the trailer below for a preview and check the website to stay updated on episode releases.
This podcast is coordinated by Viola Castellano, an anthropologist based at the University of Bayreuth, and is funded by the German Research Foundation and the OUTREACH internal fund of the University of Bayreuth. It is produced in collaboration with Youth Against Irregular Migration and Kankiling Radio.
Editing and storytelling by Daniele Lucchini, sound design by Ismael Lo, conceptual support and supervision by Ian M. Cook.
