Amadou arrived in Spain in a patera. He did not know everything from his country of destiny. But he wanted to leave Africa to improve both his personal and family situation.
He arrived in Barcelona, where he spent long seasons sleeping in the banks of public parks. Until, thanks to the mediation of a protective organization of the rights of immigrants, it became part of a family of Sabadell, which accepted it as one more child.
He worked a bit of everything.
When I met him, he was dependent on a neighborhood fruit shop, in which he had the owner's appreciation and the sympathy of customers.
Fulfilling a commission from the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia, I traveled with Amadou to his country of origin, Guinea Conakry. Since its landing in Spain, it occurred more than ten years ago, I had no chance to return.
The photograph shows him at the time of the reunion with his mother in the courtyard of the family home.
Pepe Navarro