Hundreds of women of Senegal have lost their children and husbands trying to reach the Spanish coasts in fragile ‘cayucos’ boats. During years, spouses and mothers encouraged their young ones to undertake the march, in a passage of more than a thousand kilometers from the African coasts to Canary beaches. In the coastal villages, the neighbors and relatives hold celebrations of goodbye to the bold immigrants. The Senegalese polygamy increases the competition between mothers, and shakes the desire of the boys to rise on the boats. Behind each of these pictures there is, at least, a lost life in the ocean and the history of the subsistence of a family.
Hundreds of women of Senegal have lost their children and husbands trying to reach the Spanish coasts in fragile ‘cayucos’ boats. During years, spouses and mothers encouraged their young ones to undertake the march, in a passage of more than a thousand kilometers from the African coasts to Canary beaches. In the coastal villages, the neighbors and relatives hold celebrations of goodbye to the bold immigrants. The Senegalese polygamy increases the competition between mothers, and shakes the desire of the boys to rise on the boats. Behind each of these pictures there is, at least, a lost life in the ocean and the history of the subsistence of a family.
001Maimouna Gueye. Maimouna is 67 years old and resides in the suburb of South Thiaroye Mer. She lives in a small house, next to her husband Ousmane Sakho. The marriage has three children: Aissatou; Aminata and Mamadou Zadime Sakho. Massamba Diop died at 22 years of age. He worked in great fishing boats in international fishing-grounds and maintained his family. In 2005 he left his city in a cayuco, a day before renewing his permission to fish in the international waters. The young person did not dare to say goodbye to his parents and commanded a friend to notify his travel to his family. Three weeks later, her mother received the first information about the possibility that her son had passed away. Maimouna makes artisan wrists that she later sells in the street and helps to maintain her family.
002.Aida Faye. Aida - in center of the image, and surrounded by children and grandsons - is 45 years old. The mother of eight children, Mustafa Dieye died in 2006 during a passage in cayuco in the direction of the Canary Islands. He was 25 years old and studied the last year before entering the university. The 80 occupants of his boat passed away. He started off from Yoguie, the south of Senegal. Somebody warned his mother that his son was in Casamance, on the verge of marching. Twenty of the deceaseds came from Gandiol, their family village, near the mouth of the Senegal River, next to St Louis. A daughter of Aida, - Khadi, of eighteen years, on the left of the mother in the photo- has three children. The girl is widowed. Her husband, Mamadou, of 40 years, traveled in the same cayuco next to his brother-in-law and the brother of his wife, who was married at just thirteen years of age and against her will. Khadi was pregnant when her partner travelled.
003.Faton Ndoye. Faton was born in 1953 and is married with Momar Miang, of 72 years. Mother of eight children: Malick; Maty; Khoudia; Fatuo; Spear; Maguette and Mohamed. The major of all, Abdaurahmane Nang, of 38 years, died in 2006 after starting off from Mauritania in cayuco. The son informed his mother his intentions, but she thought that he was a joking. Two or three days later, Faton verified that it was true. None of the members of cayuco were saved. Abdaurahmane worked in a carpet company.
004.Khardiata Mbale. Born in 1951, is married with Issa Fall, who is 70 years old, retired and an ex- broker. Her son Alassane Fall, of 34 years, passed away in the sea trying to reach Europe. He marched in a cayuco in 2006. He was a hairdresser. He initiated his trip from Mauritania. An afternoon, lacking of work, decided to leave. He did not give more explanations.
005.Ndiobe Tima. Divorced from Papa Mamadou Seck, her son Seck Band, of 27 years, is one more victim of the non regulated immigration. The young person was single and was a cabinet maker. He maintained all the family with his work. The boy found out the opening of a new route to reach the Canary Islands. After joining money, thanks to the collaboration of his brothers and uncles, he traveled by car until Mauritania. From the neighboring country he telephoned his family to warn them of his travel in a cayuco. His family never knew anything of him. In South Thiaroye Mer many mothers and widows wait for a simple confirmation of the death of their children or spouses. The news about them is often mere speculations.