THE DREAM FACTORY

Or how an algorithm works

on a porous mind

“There’s a valorisation process associated with leaving. It becomes a way to achieve valued social goals.
Once I leave, I can build a big house, have a grand wedding and drive a nice car… All of this shapes the imagination.”
Abdoulaye Doro Sow, Philosophy and Anthropology professor

Across West Africa, from rural towns to urban centers, social media algorithms are influencing perceptions and fueling aspirations. Smartphones light up with contents from those who’ve managed to migrate. Images and stories become a limitless source of inspiration. The courage to migrate is celebrated and leaving becomes a heroic act. Combined with the stories of those who have come back, these contents craft the illusion of a paradise in opposition to tough economic conditions, lack of opportunities, and a sense of being left behind in a global race. Across these communities, dreams of a better life gradually take shape, permeating the daily life of the ones who refuse stagnation. Yet, it’s not about running away—it is about chasing a dream.

I left for my mother..Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania. After Mauritania, there will be another continent. Inshallah. Do you know Tupac? B.I.G.? My idols since I was a kid. They came from the same struggles I’ve been through. There’s one song I’ve been listening so much: “Dear Mama.” I used to lock myself in my room for days and dream. Do you know the first gift Tupac’s producer gave him? A real Rolex! He went on to collect many, that’s redemption! That crown became my first tattoo. I am a king! I am the difference! One day, I will be an MMA fighter in the United States. New York? Times Square? Putain, shit, that’s a dream of a lifetime.
Chrisby

“One ticket for the pirogue ranges from €500 to €1000 and there are 60-70 people on board. Everyone knows it, I need to pay up to €14,000 for the coast guard. No departure can happen without the approval of the authorities.Without paying, they’ll catch you immediately. The pirogue won’t leave, and all the passengers will be arrested. Everyone”.

THE TOYLAND

Or where dreams and reality converge

“In the Land of Toys, every day, except Sunday, is a Saturday.

Vacation begins on the first of January and ends on the last day of December.”

Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi

The utopian dream of a global playground is being shared from story to story. On TikTok, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, young people dive into a parallel reality where everything seems possible. The cult of success, manifested as the pursuit of material wealth, has been spread to thousands of young women and men who are building their own fantasy of happiness. Yet, the more they scroll, the wider the gap grows between expectations and reality. In the archipelago of the Canary Islands, two places captivate newly arrived West Africans: the beach, so different from those on the African coasts, and shopping malls. Welcome to the Land of Toys! On the first call, happiness. On the second one, a dystopian reality.

“I’ve always loved dressing elegantly—I don’t want people to look at me the wrong way because of my dresses. But people shouldn’t just stop at my photos because they look cool. You can be beautiful and poor at the same time. They might watch my videos on TikTok, believing that I got rich and decide to take a pirogue to join me. But that’s not reality, life is tough here.I won’t tell anyone to come, just as I won’t tell anyone not to come.”
Daouda

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Or how to step into the unknown

““I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future

and I felt that I had come to the end of something, and was on the verge of something else.

I felt I was moving in a state of confusion, and that no matter where I went, it would be impossible to find my way.

But the strange thing was that I didn’t care anymore. I was free, and that was enough.”

The Road, Jack Kerouac

Once on the road, the journey truly begins. What lies beyond? Does it match with the images seen on social media? The dream translates into reality, amplified by a cultural clash that leaves many bewildered. The gaze discovers an unfamiliar terrain, shaped by new and unclear rules. In the Canary Islands, migrants meddle into the idyllic scene of a seaside resort, observed by thousands of tourists whose carefree holiday under the winter sun is suddenly confronted with global issues. Hosted in reception centers, dressed in black clothing, migrants appear simultaneously fascinated and hypnotised by this new world. On the other route, towards the United States, migrants cross dense jungles to become part of an endless flow of people chasing the American Dream. They share parts of the route with people from all over the world. Different languages, different food, different culture, and also different networks of organized crime.

“I landed in Brazil, decided to go to the United States, and started making my way up. In Panama, it was horrible. We had to climb on a mountain, using ropes anchored into the rock to pull ourselves up. Once we reached the top, men dressed in black,masked, and armed, were waiting for us. One of them put a gun to my head and took everything: our phones, our money. At least I was alive. My wife Aïda and my two children, Zeït and Amir, are the only ones who know I’m here in Mexico. No one else. . I’m completely disconnected from TikTok, Instagram, all of it. As soon as I reach my goal, I’ll be back on social media. I can’t post things while life here is still so difficult. An adventurer must always stay positive and patient. “
Mohamed

“It’s been 10 years since I left Nigeria. Back there, I was a street worker, like my father. I’m alone here, bro. Few people know this, but you can call me Friday too, it’s my nickname. I live over there, in the abandoned house next to the supermarket, you know? My job is begging. Some days I work at the restaurant over there, cleaning their toilets, and they give me 100 pesos and let me take a shower. I call my family at the beginning of each month, every month. I tell them that everything’s okay, that things are going well here. I’m not on social media, just on WhatsApp. The other Nigerians don’t want me to hang out with them. I’m alone. Some days I smoke a little, sometimes I beg, sometimes I just sleep. One day, bro, I’ll be in New York…”
Obiniya

“We are here because of our children. We suffer here because of them. One day, your son will say that he loves you for what you have done. Let’s be careful! Loving your mother, your father, and your children is an act of worship. Ask yourself every day what Allah wants. Right now, you are doing something for your family. Allah is with you. Goodness brings goodness.”

THE TRAP

Or when the dream sets Its price

“Ellis Island was nothing more than a factory for manufacturing Americans. A factory to convert emigrants into immigrants, [...] on one side you put an Irishman, a Jew from the Ukraine, an Italian from Apulia, and at the other one, after inspection of the eyes, inspection of the pockets, vaccination, disinfection, an American comes out.”

Georges Perec - Ellis Island

Imagination reveals its double-edged nature; it can open new horizons or trap us into illusions. Once the initial enthusiasm fades, the weight of reality comes out. What turns an emigrant into a immigrant? The economical worth. Economies frequently rely on migrants for low-paid, precarious jobs that locals won’t do. Politicians exploit migration to influence elections, presenting migrants as scapegoats or solutions. Failure is now a constant risk, an inherent part of the journey. Bonds with fellow compatriots and solidarity become essential to avoid falling apart. Yet, admitting this vulnerability is unthinkable, it would shatter the carefully cultivated image of the fearless adventurer. The burden of a failure could rapidly become unbearable.