African poet eyes to reclaim the Sahara
Headlines portray the Sahara as a barren desert that claims the lives of many African migrants but Nigerian poet Tade Ipadeola had a different story to tell -- and it was worth $100,000.
Ipadeola's "The Sahara Testaments" won the most lucrative writing award in Africa, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, for his account of the history and culture of the world's largest desert.
He said the Sahara's true richness has been distorted by horrific tragedies involving migrants who have been found dead in north Africa after a failed attempt to start a new life in Europe.
Ipadeola told AFP: "I wanted to show that it is not just a barren wasteland.
"The Sahara was the prime location for some of the greatest literature in the world," said the 43-year-old poet, referencing several writers from the region, including St Augustine, the 4th century philosopher born in modern-day Algeria.
"The Sahara Testaments" touches on the desert's history, the impact of climate change, personal stories as well as some political criticism and satire.
Even though his work focused on the rich life of the Sahara, he nonetheless hoped that "The Sahara Testaments" would raise awareness about the unsustainable flow of Africans into Europe.
"Europe cannot contain the influx," he said. "Europeans are becoming increasingly xenophobic. It is a really explosive mix.
"The failure of African leadership" was ultimately to blame for the heartbreaking accounts of migrants perishing, he argued, chastising politicians who have both failed to provide opportunities for their people and failed to stop them from embarking on borderline suicidal journeys.
"The bulk of those who leave," he said, "are oblivious to the dangers of trying to cross that amount of distance in one of the hottest places on earth."
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