Friday, 24 February 2023
Interview Keita
Can you tell me your thoughts on the photoshoot we just had?
I loved the photoshoot. The photos turned out amazing, and I'm really happy with the results.
Which particular shots do you like the most?
I'm really fond of the close-up shots where I'm looking away from the camera and the ones where my eyes are closed.
Is this your first time having a professional photo session?
Yes, it is my first time.
How was the experience for you? Did you find it challenging?
Overall, the experience was great. It wasn't difficult for me, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Would you like to have more photo sessions in the future?
Absolutely! I actually love taking photos of myself, so I would love to have more professional photo sessions in the future.
What do you plan to use these photos for?
I'll definitely keep them as a memory of this experience, but I'll also be posting them on my Instagram page. Many of my friends from Slovenia really appreciate my traditional dress, and they loved the photos.
Keita, can you tell me a bit about your background? I understand you're from Senegal?
Yes, that's correct. I left Senegal when I was 16 years old, so about six years ago. I spent five years in Ukraine and left just before the war started. I've been in Slovenia for about a year now.
How did you travel from Senegal to Ukraine?
I travelled legally by plane from Senegal to Turkey, and then from Turkey to Ukraine.
I understand that you had to leave Ukraine just before the war started. Can you tell me a bit about your journey from Ukraine to Slovenia?
Sure, so after leaving Ukraine, I crossed the border to Hungary illegally with no documents. The Hungarian officials didn't believe me when I said I was coming from Ukraine, so they sent me to Serbia. I didn't want to go back to Ukraine because everyone was saying that the war was coming. They put us in a van and drove us to a forest on the border between Hungary and Serbia. We spent four days without internet, walking in the forest. We didn't have any food with us, so we ate the fruit we found in the forest and drank water from the river. Eventually, we met the Serbian police, who took us to a refugee camp where we could sleep and get some food. After a few days, we continued to Bosnia, then Croatia, and finally Slovenia.
It sounds like your journey from Ukraine to Slovenia was quite difficult. Would you say it was the hardest experience of your life?
Absolutely. It was the most difficult thing I've ever experienced. Walking with a group of 45 people in the mountains and crossing five rivers was incredibly challenging. I saw people giving up and going back, and I saw people drowning because they were too fatigued to cross the rivers.
How often do you think about these experiences?
I do think about them from time to time. But there were also some positive experiences during my journey. For example, I met three African girls in Serbia who asked me to walk with them to Croatia. We walked at night and rested during the day. When we arrived in Croatia, the police caught us, and the girls were so exhausted that the police had to call an ambulance. We spent a couple of nights in the hospital together, and then the police took us to the refugee camp in Zagreb. We didn't want to stay in Croatia, so we tried to leave the camp and cross over to Slovenia three times. Finally in the third event we succeded. My friends continued to France, I remained in Slovenia.
Why did you decide to stay in Slovenia?
I met somebody in Serbia who used to live in Slovenia and told me a lot of positive things about it. When I arrived, I helped the Slovenian police with translations because my friends did not know English language. That is why, for some time, the police exchanged me for a leader and a refugee trafficker. So, the police sent me to Postojna refugee prison. At that time, there were Ukraine refugees coming to Slovenia. I attended my first court meeting, but the court did not believe that I was coming from Ukraine. The court did not believe me because I had no papers to prove it. After one month, they put me in Ljubljana refugee camp where I stay at the moment, waiting for my asylum papers.
Did you ask for asylum in Slovenia? Have you received it yet?
Yes, I have asked for asylum in Slovenia, but I'm still waiting for the process to be completed. I wish the Slovenian government will grant me asylum. I need their support.
How do you feel when you talk about your past experiences?
I feel sad, but it's also good for me. In life, I have had many experiences, and maybe this last one will make me stronger.
Why do you feel sad?
Because I saw sad stories of people who I knew. They had a plan, an objective. They had wives and children, and they wanted to help their family back home in Africa. But they died on their way to come to Europe. So, they will not be able to help their families anymore. We had the same vision, same plan about the future. We were talking about it: to go to Europe, get a job, and help mother and father back in Africa. In the end, they died in the forest or in the river. I feel sad when I talk about it, but at the same time, I am proud of myself because I know it was not an easy experience.
You said that you see yourself in the future helping your relatives. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I have the same vision and objective already from when I was in Senegal. I want to be a professional football player. This is my ambition. I am always fighting for my objective to become a big football player. This is my dream.
How many times per week do you practice?
Every day except Sunday.
Do you have a coach?
Not right now. I used to play for a football club, but I had no contract. There is a law in Slovenia that only one foreign player can play in a local club. And there was already a Bosnian footballer that took the place. But they wanted me to play with them anyway, because they thought I was good. Then the management changed the head coach who brought with him his own international player, so I had to leave the club, and I am now looking for one.
Keita, what are you most afraid of?
I am most afraid of disappointing the people who put trust in me. Like my parents.
Your success is very important to you because if you do not succeed, you will disappoint them?
Yes, for me, it is very important. But my parents never expect anything from me. They just pray for me and they push me to believe in myself and understand that I can become anything I want. They also tell me to be nice with people and to behave like a man, not complain in life. I want to be successful to help them. They sacrificed a lot for me and my brothers and sisters.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
My dad lives with two women, my mother and my stepmother. In total, we are seventeen children. From my mother, I have three older brothers, an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister.
Let me ask you a simple question. You are a handsome guy and I know you like gils. What do you think about the girls in Slovenia?
I have had a positive experience with the people in Slovenia, especially the girls. They are kind, open-minded, and welcoming. I have never felt any discrimination because of my skin color. Every time I initiate a conversation with them, they respond politely and engage in meaningful dialogue. It was a different experience in Ukraine, where many times I faced judgment based on my appearance.
What does love mean to you, Keita?
I believe I am still too young to fully understand and talk about love. However, from my past experiences, love is a deep connection between two people who share the same understanding and feelings towards each other. When partners understand each other's needs and wants, they can build a strong and lasting relationship.
How many children do you envision having when you find your life partner?
I would love to have a large family, from five to seven children. Although it may seem like a lot, I am confident that I can provide for my family and ensure they have everything they need to thrive. My ultimate dream is to create a comfortable and loving home for my family.
Having five children is quite a responsibility. How do you plan on providing for them?
My biggest aspiration in life is to take care of my family and provide for their needs. I am confident that with hard work and dedication, I can achieve this goal.
Thank you for your time, Keita. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Thank you. It was a pleasure speaking with you.