Book: I am Justice. A journey out of Africa

Author: Paul Kenyon

Publisher: Preface Publishing

Volume: 250 pages

Price: Shs 34,000

Reviewer: Martyn Drakard

Available from Aristoc.

"Today the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) estimates there are between 750,000 and a million African immigrants waiting on the Libyan coast for their chance to try lampa-lampa". These are the closing words of "I am Justice" written by Paul Kenyon, award-winning BBC journalist who made a documentary on African migrants in 2007.

"Lampa lampa" is slang for escape by sea from North Africa to Europe, and since the first place most survivors reach is the Italian island of Lampedusa, between Tunis and Malta, the name has stuck.

"Justice" is Justice Amin, a seventeen-year old Ghanaian youth who runs away from a tyrannical uncle to try his luck in Britain, the only European country he knows something about.

Two years ago while making the documentary, Kenyon befriended Justice, met some of the other twenty-six migrants who crossed the sea with him, and recreated the story of their incredible adventure. Last year he went to Justice's home town in Ghana to find out more about his uncle, Ibrahim. He has followed up the fate of the main "characters" of the story; all of them are unemployed or casual menial workers at best.

Ironically the only ones who are working are Justice's Arabic teacher who made it to Italy, but "escaped" back to Ghana; and Razak, who helped organize their lampa-lampa from Tripoli, but never dared to make the crossing himself. He married in Ghana and is waiting for his wife to cross the Sahara to join him!

The UNHCR "suggests" that about 31,000 people safely crossed to Italy last year, and 525 perished, based on the number of bodies found; the IOM puts fatalities closer to 2,000. No-one knows. Crossings are secret; the whole business is illegal and the Libyan authorities crack down heavily on people-smugglers and those being smuggled.

This is not simply a story about one crossing, but about two. The route of flight from the West African coast, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, to the Libyan coast, along the way joining migrants from Burkina Faso, southern Sudan and Niger -where the Sahara begins- must be one of the toughest in the world. In part due to the desert, extensive and merciless; and the Mediterranean whose storms can easily capsize small boats.

But also because of the ruthless characters encountered on the way: soldiers and police who imprison migrants and torture them; middle-men who have to be trusted, but can leave hapless travellers stranded in the desert or alone to brave the waves. And at every step, money must change hands if favours are to be done.

For migrants crossing the sea is a daunting experience: fears of unappeased spirits and monsters lurking below the water's surface, and the effects of dehydration, hunger, unrelenting tension and lack of sleep.

Paul Kenyon puts everything together beautifully, making for an exciting read.