Guest Speakers: Mamadou Sow

A talk with Mamadou Sow, author of "La route à bout de bras" (Éditions Migrilude, 2020), chaired by journalist Yves Magat.

Through his book and his work with a charitable association, Mamadou Sow shares a moving account of courage, resilience and humanity. His story tells of a man who faced rejection because of his disability from an early age, yet remained determined to forge his own path.

“One day, the village chief’s son said to me: ‘Listen, little one, you’re still a child, but now you have to fend for yourself and go to Conakry. Because you’re disabled, you’ll be able to beg and earn a little money.’”

Written in the form of an A–Z, this account of Mamadou Sow’s life was shared with Elisabeth Zurbriggen, a former teacher. A young Guinean migrant, he describes his daily struggle to escape the discrimination faced by people with disabilities in his home country. He also recounts his journey across Africa and his eventual passage to Europe, in a story shaped by hardship but also by an unwavering determination to live with dignity.

Beyond sharing his personal story, Mamadou Sow is deeply committed to making a difference. Through his association, "La Route à bout de bras", he works to support people with disabilities, including through the distribution of wheelchairs and the training of apprentices in wheelchair repair.

This event offers an opportunity to discover a remarkable personal journey, explore questions of migration, disability and solidarity, and reflect on the power of individual and collective action.