BBC Africa Eye, the investigative unit of BBC World Service, explores what is driving some first-generation French Africans to seek new beginnings in Senegal. This new documentary not only uncovers their aspirations, but also captures the challenges they encounter as they strive to build new lives far from what they know.

Amid rising nationalism, incidents of alleged police racism and social tensions, some French Africans are leaving France to escape the prejudice they face. A recent survey suggested that 91% of Black people in France had experienced racial discrimination.

These individuals are united by a shared perception: a belief that their skin colour and religion contribute to them being treated as second-class citizens in France.

BBC Africa Eye follows these four young people as they prepare to depart, reflecting on their motivations for leaving, their experiences with identity, and their aspirations for a life unbound by discrimination. The film also features conversations with their loved ones, including those who disagree with them and wish to remain in France, exploring the complexities of identity and the emotional implications of their departures.

The documentary captures the compelling stories of five individuals on their journeys:

• Menka: A decorated engineer who feels he has reached a glass ceiling, and is leaving for Senegal to grow his travel agency business.
• Fanta: A mother who fears for her son’s safety, fearing he may become another victim of police violence.
• Audrey: A teacher and mother who faces legal repercussions for wearing her headscarf at work.
• Fatoumata: A businesswoman pursuing her dream of starting her own business in Senegal.
• Marie-Yvonne: A businesswoman who disillusioned by the French social model, created a company to help others return to Africa.
• Salamata: A businesswoman that left France to settle in Senegal to run her business.

The stories of each person prompts critical questions about identity, including the question from each character: “Will I ever be French enough?”, as they navigate their evolving definition of home.

For the film’s reporter Nour Abida and the film’s producer, Nathalie Jimenez, this investigation was also intertwined with their own experiences of identity after leaving France.

Reflecting on the film, Nour Abida says: “This film explores what some like myself felt when leaving France: ‘What does being French mean to us, and why was leaving the easier choice for some?’. The documentary sheds light on the experiences of young first-generation Africans in France, grappling with identity and exploring the societal factors that drive them to leave.”