Increasingly, migration is a theme at the heart of various audiovisual, literary and artistic productions. Aged 27, Justencia Débora Mbembo is a Gabonese author, screenwriter, specialised in children’s books and animated films. Outside of her native country, she has lived in Niger and Benin. In recent years, she has made a name for herself as a director of animated films for children with migration as her central theme. With Dialogue Migration, the screenwriter paints her perception of migration and lifts the veil on her experiences on the subject as well as her perspectives.

You are leading an animated film project for children that deals with migration. What is it?

I’m currently working on an animated series project called “Anaya, the Price of Dreams”. This series deals with immigration motivated by social networks, because today in addition to social and natural scourges, social networks are one of the motivations for the migration of African youth.

Why did you focus this theme on children, and choose animated films?

We have chosen to target the entire audience regardless of age, because we believe that it is from childhood that we must educate and raise awareness. Animation is the best way for us to do this. We hope that young Africans will change their view of immigration.

What results do you expect?

The goal of this project is to convey a message. As a result, we hope that young Africans will change their view of immigration.

You are Gabonese, you have also lived in Niger and Benin to name but a few, what is your view on migration in Africa, and in the countries you have visited outside Africa?

I was very fortunate to be able to travel a lot and be around different realities. In my humble opinion, both in Africa and in Europe, there is good and bad migration. When you immigrate to a country with strong motivations, reasons or foundations, it is easier to integrate and contribute to the socio-economic development of that country.  It is the difficulties of integration of some migrants that make the natives apprehensive about immigration.

At one point, you met young Africans who were in the process of immigrating from one country to another to go to the West. Have you heard from them? How do you interpret this “phenomenon”?

During my stay in Niamey, I was able to meet migrants coming from Central Africa and heading towards the Mediterranean by crossing the desert. I talked to them for a long time, but I lost track of them in Ceuta. It leaves a mixed feeling and I hope they are alive. It’s the best I can wish for them, life.

What are your perspectives on this reality and the theme of migration? 

Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to say. We live in a world divided by borders and where our interests are often elsewhere than our own. It is impossible to say that immigration will ever end, but we can work to make it safer and better regulated.

What are your projections in terms of achievement in relation to migration?

My goal is to reach as many people as possible so that more of us can each act in our own way in the face of this phenomenon, which plunges our continent into mourning, day after day.