Synopsis
Following the dealings of Mauritanian fixers ferrying migrants by sea, this film shows the human cost of irregular migration in West Africa. Interrogating the role of fixers as facilitators of the voyage across the sea as well as the casualties that occur, this asks if they are very different from 16th century slave catchers. In the 16th century, slave trade decimated much of West of Africa causing long lasting devastation and disruption. The 21st century migration out of Africa seems to be following a similar path. At the centre of both are the people who benefit financially- slave catchers of old and fixers nowadays. The film draws parallels, highlighting similarities and differences and asking the questions: Why is it taking place today? Are the experiences and results the same? On the one hand is the involuntary migration of the slaves in shackles being forced to the Western countries for unpaid labour then, and the contemporary voluntary migration to Western countries that is happening now – this time as cheap labour.
Credits
| Director |
Country |
Run time |
|
Chinedum Iregbu |
Nigeria |
40min |
