BIOGRAPHY

I am Senegalese. In addition to being a member of the GRM (Migration Research Group, Autonomous University of Barcelona – UAB), I am currently a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the CRER- Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations (University of Warwick, U.K.) and at IFAN – Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (University Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal). I have also collaborated with the Immigration and Society of Information Group (IMSI) of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (Open University of Catalonia – UOC). I am mainly interested in the international migration of Senegalese and Gambians and their relationships (mobility) between Africa and the rest of the world, and particularly Morocco, France and Spain. After graduating with a degree in Geography from the University Gaston Berger of Saint Louis (Senegal) I went on to do a Master in Human Geography at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). After an academic stay of one year in the University of Warwick (United Kingdom) I received my PhD from the UAB in 2004. My thesis is titled: Senegalese and Gambians in Catalonia (Spain). Geo-sociological Analysis of their spatial and social networks. The thesis concentrates on African migrants within the framework of underground economies in Europe.

After my PHD Dissertation in Human Geography I have amassed considerable professional experience through several research projects in the field of Anthropology and Sociology. The accumulated experience in this area has provided me with an important tool to understand the agents moving in the field of immigration. In the same vein they have helped me to develop my skills in the area of Ethnic Relations and to find an environment to pursue my chosen career path.

I have always been interested in diversity, especially in the cultural vision of African marriages. I take every opportunity to meet people, researchers and PHD students who are investigating this field of research. Allied with the afore mentioned experiences such contacts and collaborations have enabled me to develop my abilities of establishing communication quickly, easily and effectively.

Furthermore through these experiences, I have been able to work on data processing and the presentation of several materials, and have demonstrated effectiveness in transforming ideas into projects. This has also enabled me to have the ability to analyze and draw reliable conclusions about any research project in social sciences, to write reports and research papers for a variety of audiences, to co-ordinate information from many different sources, adopt behaviors and work methods in response to new information and changing conditions.

 Several years full-time practical research experience at international level in demography and migration issues has afforded me considerable expertise of research methodology, demographic software, techniques for census data entry and analysis, survey and interview skills and a good knowledge and understanding of population issues (migrations) and the relationship between Migrant Associations and Social Networks. I have a good familiarity with West African culture (and society) in general and particularly with Senegalese culture and a sufficient familiarity with UN Population and Development Programmes, their working methods, policies, procedures and current debates on international labor.

Apart from liaising with researchers and professionals and analysing how they think and act, I saw how important my field of study is to understand the dynamics of change in the domain of immigration in Europe, and between Europe and Africa. My European experiences have constituted a basis for a transfer of knowledge from Europe to Africa. I have seen how important my field of study is to understand the dynamics of change between Europe and Africa.

I speak several languages:
Fulani: a language of western Africa  (spoken in Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Guinée-Conakry, Guinée-Bissau, Cameroun, Mauritania, Chad, Central Africa);
Wolof: a language of western Africa (spoken in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia);
Catalan: (speaking, drafting and reading);
Spanish: (speaking, drafting and reading);
English: (speaking, drafting and reading);
French: (speaking, drafting and reading);
Italian and Portuguese: (at translation level).
Leisure activities: listening to music (reggae, jazz, African music, soul, reading, walking, bicing, mountains and other sports.