African Aliens

About the Book

Sainy, a young Gambian, leaves the Gambia for Paris. Like most young Africans he arrives with high hopes for a better life. Confronted by a minefield of immigration restrictions with which he struggles vainly, he accepts an easy way in by marrying a Gambian-born divorcée and becoming the step-father of the woman's young son.

As the months pass, Sainy learns new facts about the Africans living in France. He sees how their home-grown values of culture and community and morality adapt in their new culture, for better or worse.

About the Author

Lang Fafa Dampha was born in the Gambia in 1965. After his primary school education in No-kunda, he Studied at the Gambia Muslim High School in Banjul, and worked as a telephone clerk at the Telecoms Department in Banjul (now Gamtel) for 9 months. He then pursued a two-year vocational training in rural development at the Rural Development Institute in Mansakonko (Gambia).

Upon graduation, he worked as a Community Development Assistant in the Department of Community Development (in Kuntair) for three years. He resigned his post to come to France where he has lived as an immigrant and has learned French on part time basis while working full time.

Lang Fafa has subsequently been to the University of Paris VII, Jussieu, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Civilisation, and then to the University of Paris IV Sorbonne, where, in 2001, he graduated with a master's degree in Civilisation. In October 2007 he obtained a PhD in English studies (International Relations and Development).

Since October 2007, Lang Fafa has lectured English for Economic and Social Administration at the University of Paris 13, Economic English (Introduction to Economics, and the Stock Market) at the University of Paris 8, and Legal English (Law and Politics – UK/USA) at the University of Paris 2 – Panthéon Assas.