Fati Halidu's life-threatening boat trip across the Mediterranean lasted a week before the migrant from Ghana reached her long-awaited destination: Italy.
But after six months in a refugee camp, she returned disillusioned to her homeland.
There she was heaped with accusations from her relatives and neighbors and stigmatized as a failure.
The documentary »Fati's Return« traces their bitter experiences.
It was created as part of the »Generation Africa« project, which was coordinated by South African producer Don Edkins and includes 25 documentaries and short films from 17 African countries.
The collection adopts an exclusively African perspective under the motto »Retelling migration«.
For the first time, film talents from Nigeria, Gambia, Mali, Zimbabwe and other countries describe the motives, hopes and longings of young people who are making their way to Europe.
According to the project management, "Fati's Return" received the most feedback from viewers.
The 42-minute documentary was directed by Fatimah Dadzie, who studied at the National Film and Television Institute in Accra.
In an interview, the 40-year-old describes why many people in Ghana have a distorted image of Europe - and why the pressure on migrants is so great.
SPIEGEL:
Your protagonist Fati Halidu had made the dangerous journey through the Sahara to Libya, then she risked her life crossing the Mediterranean - and reached Italy.
Why did she return to Ghana six months later?
Dadzie:
Fati thought she had finally arrived in paradise, but she soon realized that it was a self-deception.
She could not move freely and experienced racial rejection.
For example, when she was on the bus, nobody wanted to sit next to her.
Fati felt that she was not welcome in Italy.
Her hope of earning money quickly to send some home was also not fulfilled.
SPIEGEL:
Was that because of your status as an irregular migrant?
Dadzie:
It is.
Fati failed because of the bureaucratic obstacles, she was not given a residence permit.
And when she ended up in the Fenoglio reception center not far from Turin, she was shocked by the conditions in the camp.
The narrowness, the lack of hygiene, the hopelessness.
She felt trapped and lost hope.
SPIEGEL:
Did these circumstances make Fati Halidu turn back?
Dadzie:
Absolutely.
But there were other factors too.
She was disillusioned and homesick.
She longed for her children, whom she had had to leave behind.
SPIEGEL:
When she arrived in Ghana, she wasn't given a friendly welcome.
Dadzie:
Her parents were disappointed because they had high expectations.
Fati is the firstborn, she had to take on the responsibilities that are usually left to the eldest son.
The fact that she had made the crossing to Italy even brought the family social prestige.
The parents and younger siblings had firmly expected that Fati would regularly transfer money from Europe to improve their economic situation.
And now she came back empty-handed.
SPIEGEL:
Apparently you didn't understand what your daughter went through?
Dadzie:
Yes.
The relatives and friends just didn't want to believe that Europe is like Fati described it.
They have the delusional idea that all immigrants can find work there and lead a good life.
SPIEGEL:
In your documentary, friends who label Fati as a failure also have their say.
Dadzie:
Fati had to listen to the same accusations over and over again, even from good friends: You were lucky enough to give your life a different direction.
Why did you throw away this chance?
How could you take such a big risk and then not take the opportunity?
A younger brother even said, "It would have been better if you hadn't gone in the first place because you didn't achieve anything."
SPIEGEL:
Why did even your closest relatives show so little understanding for Fati's decision?
Dadzie:
Because the family put money together to fund their trip.
It was a kind of investment that didn't pay off in the end.
SPIEGEL:
Did Fati Halidu regret her return?
Dadzie:
Oh yes!
She has often regretted returning home empty-handed.
Her husband, whom she followed to Italy, separated from her after she left Europe.
She wondered if she had made the right decision.
Because she was bombarded with allegations every day.
And there has always been speculation about what really happened on Fati's journey.
The neighbors didn't believe her story.
Even complete strangers spoke to her: Why did you give up?
The social pressure was enormous, Fati could not resist the resentments and listened to them in silence.
SPIEGEL:
How did she overcome her self-doubt?
Dadzie:
Deep down, Fati knew she did the right thing.
She had missed her children, who had not been treated well by their in-laws.
Her motherly love was by far the most important motive for her return home.
SPIEGEL:
In one scene in the film, your eleven-year-old son Sudais announces that he will also set off for Europe at some point and will return home with lots of nice things.
Fati Halidu resolutely replies: No, you're not going anywhere!
Dadzie:
She wants to spare him the fate she went through.
But the announcement of her son expresses a life plan that the younger generation has internalized: It is quite normal to leave one's homeland to seek happiness abroad.
SPIEGEL:
But word has gotten around that the journey is life-threatening and often ends in Libya.
Dadzie:
Of course people are aware of the risks because nowadays all information is accessible via social media.
But bad news doesn't deter them.
Also, many believe that the media exaggerates the problems and paints a false picture.
It is sometimes absurd how Europe is glorified.
Everything is clean, safe and green there.
People are convinced of that.
Then they set off under the motto: No guts, no glory!
SPIEGEL:
If you don't dare, you don't win...
Dadzie:
Nothing can stop her because life can only get better.
And that will not change as long as the economic situation in their home countries is bad.
SPIEGEL:
So it's primarily economic reasons that are driving migration?
Dadzie:
At least that's how it is in Ghana.
We actually live in a peaceful country, but there is hardly any economic progress.
This is also due to bad politics.
The rich and powerful only look after themselves and send their children to foreign private schools, the majority of the population is poor and has little future prospects.
That's why young people are looking outwards.
They have an idealized vision of the promised continent of Europe, where good-paying jobs abound.
In short: they are trying to escape poverty.
SPIEGEL:
Around 2.3 million migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers arrived in Germany alone by November last year, almost half of which came from Ukraine.
Many communities have problems housing and caring for them, and xenophobia is growing in some regions.
Dadzie:
Such stats are not known around here, nor would they discourage people from heading out.
Migration will increase as long as the political and economic causes remain and the gap between poor and rich countries widens.
SPIEGEL:
How is Fati Halidu doing now?
Dadzie:
She moved from her hometown of Akyem Oda and now lives in the capital, Accra, with her five children.
The neighbors don't know her history.
Fati is a new person, she has found her peace of mind and is trying to somehow support her children.
"Fati's Return" in the Arte Mediathek.
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