The Travelers

In 2015, the young Cameroonian David Bingong managed to cross the heavily guarded border between Morocco and Spain. This marked the beginning of his stay in Europe, and it enabled him—like so many of his generation—to begin supporting his family financially. At the time, Bingong filmed the immense efforts he and other “voyageurs” from African countries made to achieve their goal.

The Travelers took shape ten years later as a montage of their hardships. It is a raw account, balancing between despair and determination. Improvised songs tell the story, recounting how the young men sleep in the woods to avoid being caught, and how their illegal camps are set on fire. The migrants discuss storming the border fence at Ceuta as if it were a military operation—which makes sense, given that serious injuries are a constant threat; in one such attempt, dozens are killed.

With his camera, Bingong recorded his companions, many of whom would never make it to Europe. He thus provides us with an eyewitness account from the front line of the refugee crisis.