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Written & performed by Nach
From the CD Miradas/Ars Magna (Boacor, Spain 2005)
He venido porque en mi tierra natal las cosas van mal,
la violencia y la pobreza avanzan a un ritmo mortal,
tuve que salir,buscarme un porvenir,
resurgir, resistir y conseguir sobrevivir.
La quimera de cruzar el estrecho en patera,
mientras la guardia costera espera en vela para atraparte,
la odisea de cruzar la esfera entera,
sin destino ni cartera llendo hacia ninguna parte.
Voluntad, sacrificio, de edificio en edificio,
voy en busca de un oficio, al borde del precipicio estoy,
un trabajo que me saque de aqui abajo,
darle a mis hijos cobijo, demostrarles quien soy.
Me peleo con sus ganas y con su hipocresia,
me peleo cada dia con su ley de extranjeria,
me peleo contra aquellos que sienten mi raza como una amenaza,
esos que meten baza y me rechazan.
Tu no eres mas que yo, no eres mas que yo,
asi es mi lucha y cuando mi jefe me explota,¿quien me escucha?
sin papeles no hay trabajo y sin trabajo no hay papeles,
espirales traña y España me atrapo en sus redes.
¿Que puedo hacer? respiro desesperanza,
malvivo en un zulo oscuro porque mi alquiler no alcanza,
acudo al locutorio a diario, ese es mi deber,
saber como estan los mios, que tendran para comer.
Algunos patriotas idiotas me tratan cual bestia,
abuso en cubierto, aluso del intruso que es molestia,
vuelve a la selva negro, este no es tu pueblo,
extranjero forastero sin dinero y no me integro.
El paisaje gris de mi pais me obligo a huir,
haciendo trabajos sucios para asi no delinguir,
nostalgia de una infancia que es historia,
en mi memoria un ayer tan lejano que no volvere a vivir.
El error de ser columbiano, subsahariano,romano,
el temor de ver que pocos tienden su mano,
miedo a mi piel, miedo a mi ser y a mis costumbres,
ver que rezo en otra lengua, les irrita y les confunde.
Y a quien le incumbe si me aparto y no me adapto,
al rapto repentino del rico pais vecino, solo pacto,
comparto en mi comunidad mis bienes, mis males,
frustaciones y alegrias, tradiciones ancestrales.
(De todas formas España no es un pais racista),
pero mi nombre esta en la lista y algunos me siguen la pista,
¿hasta cuando esta marginacion?,
mi diferencia es una excusa y la usan como razon de opresion.
Tengo documentacion tras meses de adaptacion,
tras parender vuestro idioma y una profesion,
estudiare vuestra cultura, aprendere sus detalles,
si me quedare en España, si me dejan vuestras calles.
Si tus calles me acogen. Me quedaré.
Compartiré mis costumbres. Y hasta el
color de mi piel. Si tus calles me odian.
Aquí estaré. Vine para quedarme. Así que acostúmbrate.
About Nach.
‘Nach, born Ignacio Fornés Olmos, is an MC from Albacete who grew up in Alicante, Spain. […] In the beginning of 2005, Nach released his third LP, the double-CD Ars Magna/Miradas. Miradas, the second of the two, is a conceptual album where each song relates the view of life for different people: a newborn baby, a prostitute, an ex-convict, an immigrant […].’
Source: Alfonso Goiriz, All Music Guide:
https://music.msn.com/music/artistbiography/nach/+hip+hop+in+Spain+Nach&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=uk
On Migration and the Canary Islands, 2005 – 2006
One: Overview
Source: African Migration to Europe: Obscured Responsibilities and
Common Misconceptions, by Dirk Kohnert, GIGA (German Institute of
Global & Area)
Studies Research Programme: Transformation in the Process of
Globalisation, Working Paper 49, May 2007
www.gigahamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/content/publikationen/pdf/wp49_kohnert.pdf
‘Because of more rigid migration controls of EU member states, the sealing off of its Southern borders and of the coastal line between Morocco and Mauritania against the increasing influx of irregular migrants, migration routes shifted increasingly to sea-born alternatives, notably from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea to the Spanish Canary Islands. The latter registered over 31,000 African refugees in 2006, a six fold increase compared with 2005, and almost four times as many as in the previous four years combined. Additional 5,000 had been intercepted by the islands’ coastguards, and 6,000 migrants died or went missing on the perilous 1,000km sea journey under appalling conditions, according to estimates of Spanish border authorities in Tenerife.’
Two: History
Source: Canary Islands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Islands
‘The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago which, in turn, forms one of the Spanish Autonomous Communities. The archipelago is located just off the northwest coast of the African continent, 100 km west of the disputed border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The status of capital city is shared by the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which, in turn, are the capitals of the provinces of Las Palmas and Tenerife.
The cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria became a stopping point for the Spanish conquerors, traders, and missionaries on their way to the New World. This trade route brought great prosperity to some of the social sectors of the islands. The islands became quite wealthy and soon were attracting merchants and adventurers from all over Europe. Magnificent palaces and churches were built on the island of La Palma during this busy, prosperous period. The Church of El Salvador survives as one of the island’s finest examples of the architecture of the 16th century.
18th to 19th century
The sugar-based economy of the islands faced stiff competition from Spain’s American colonies. Crises in the sugar market in the 19th century caused severe recessions on the islands. A new cash crop, cochineal (cochinilla), came into cultivation during this time, saving the islands’ economy.
These economic difficulties spurred mass emigration, primarily to the Americas, during the 19th and first half of the 20th century. From 1840 to 1890, as many as 40,000 Canary Islanders emigrated to Venezuela.’
Three: Amnesty
Source: Spain starts illegal immigration amnesty, by Honor Mahoney,
EUobsever, 7 February 2005
http://euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=18348
‘EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS – Madrid’s decision to grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants living and working in the country is set to have consequences well beyond Spain.
The amnesty, which is likely to affect up to one million immigrants, began on Monday (7 February). Over the coming three months, Madrid will accept applications from immigrants who can prove that they have been in Spain for at least six months and who have a job.
The government’s aim is to get some control over the country’s illegal immigration problem. But Madrid’s move could have consequences for the rest of Europe as granting Spanish residency to the immigrants means that they would have the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.’
Four: Force
Source: Spain demands African deeds to stop migrants, by staff
writers, afrol News
http://www.afrol.com/articles/21025
‘afrol News, 4 September [2006] – After a record number of illegal West African migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands this weekend, the Spanish government hardens its tune towards African governments. Spain would ‘not tolerate’ more arrivals and that West African countries ‘ignore bilateral agreements’ on how to stop the migration flow.
During this weekend, a record number of West African migrants illegally reached the coasts of the Spanish Canary Islands, located off Africa’s north-western coast. A total of nine boats with some 1560 asylum seekers reached the archipelago during less than 48 hours. A large number of the arrivals were under-age and most reached Spain in a terrible shape.
The record number immediately reignited Spain’s inflamed political debate on how to treat the growing problem of illegal immigration from West Africa. The autonomous government of the Canary Islands has demanded strong actions from the central government in Madrid, which has spent the last year trying to oblige West African nations to assist in controlling the migration flow.
In an urgent need to demonstrate forcefulness, Madrid’s First Deputy Prime Minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, today made a strong statement at a meeting of Spanish ambassadors in Madrid, saying that Spain would ‘not tolerate’ that illegal migrants ‘keep arriving’ the Spanish coast.
She especially addressed the alleged cool cooperation by West African states in stopping migration. ‘It is necessary to let the countries of origin of these immigrants know that we will not tolerate that they keep arriving, that we will not accept that they don’t comply with bilateral and multilateral agreements and that we are disposed to act with the needed strength,’ Ms Fernández told ambassadors, expecting them to pass on the message.
The Spanish deputy also issued a message to the many West Africans still considering making the dangerous and costly expedition to Spain. She ‘guaranteed’ that ‘everybody who enters Spain in an illegal way sooner or later will leave Spain again.’
Earlier this year, Spanish authorities met with strong criticism from the Senegalese government over the humiliating way illegal migrants had been treated in the Canary Islands and how they had been deported back to Senegal. It is believed that these humiliating scenes, reported by the Spanish and West African press, widely discouraged regional governments, regarding an ample cooperation on stopping illegal migration.
The Madrid government however intensified its diplomatic efforts in West Africa since this PR blunder. Diplomatic initiatives have included a West African roundtrip by Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and the widening of bilateral cooperation with hinterland countries such as Mali and Guinea, seen as principal sources of migration efforts towards Spain and Europe.
Meanwhile, illegal migrant numbers continue to rise. Arrivals at the Canary Islands during the last week equal half of all arrivals in 2005, local authorities inform. So far in 2006, more than 20,000 African migrants have arrived the archipelago illegally – if not more, who have escaped authority statistics.’
Five: Repatriation
Source: African Migration to Europe: Obscured Responsibilities and
Common Misconceptions, by Dirk Kohnert, GIGA (German Institute of
Global & Area) Studies Research Programme: Transformation in the
Process of Globalisation, Working Paper 49, May 2007
www.gigahamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/content/publikationen/pdf/wp49_kohnert.pdf
‘[…] Thus, on the basis of a bilateral agreement between the Spanish and Senegalese immigration authorities 4,4000 migrants, interned in refugee camps on the Canary Islands, were repatriated by plane to Saint Louis (Northern Senegal) between September 9 and October 26, 2006.’
Six: Liberty, Security, Justice
Source: Thousands of African migrants drown trying to reach Europe,
by Vicky Short, World Socialist Website 7 January 2007
http://wsws.org/articles/2007/jan2007/immi-j04.shtml
‘The journey from Senegal is extremely hazardous, not only because of the effects of the weather on such small crowded boats but also as a result of the activities of the newly established ‘Operation Frontex’ —a joint initiative between the Spanish Civil Guards and the Senegalese Navy, which hunts illegal immigrants in order to return them to their country of origin. This cooperation has intercepted a dozen or so boats with about 600 people.
Frontex is a European Union agency that began its operations in October 2005. Officially, it is called the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union. It has its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, and ironically runs under the motto: Libertas, Securitas, Justitia.
El Pais reported on December 18 [2006] that 29 agents from Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Low Countries and Norway arrived in the Canary Islands recently to assist the Spanish National Police to identify 19,000 immigrants who arrived on the archipelago between June and November. The experts are part of Operation Hera I, designed by Frontex with a budget of €370,000. Their remit is to identify the countries of origin of the immigrants in order to return them. Spanish police sources said, ‘A great number of people-traffickers, departing sites, supplying sites, places of gathering, places of recruitment, interior routes, have been identified…which have been of great help for the deployment of EU aeroplanes, helicopters and frigates in the operation Hera II,’ also designed by Frontex.’
Seven: Compassion
Source: One village’s African boat trauma. Last Updated: Tuesday, 24
October 2006,
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/5404816.stm
‘Every day hundreds of African migrants cross the Atlantic Ocean to the Canary Islands in search of a better life. Debbie Woodmansey, who has lived in Gran Canaria for two-and-a-half years, describes the impact this has on her village.
Let me first tell you about our village. It is a small, friendly, ancient Canarian fishing village which is developing to incorporate the growing population.
I became aware of the boats from Africa not long after I arrived. At first I would just see piles of battered boats in the corner of the harbour. People told me they had arrived carrying up to 100 people but I didn’t believe them. It was beyond comprehension.
One day in the summer of 2005, I came home from work to find my daughter really distressed. She told me she had seen hundreds of African people sitting on the ground in the square looking sad and hungry.
What was a shock then has now sadly become a regular sight. The sirens, the police, the desperation of the boat people. These are all commonplace, as is the feeling of helplessness experienced by the villagers who truly want to do something to help.
Boats now arrive most days, sometimes several in a day. They hold around 100 men, women and children. They are now about 12 metres long but this doesn’t mean they are safer.
I wouldn’t take my daughter to the next village in one. These people cross an ocean in them, and a dangerous one at that. We always know when a boat is about to arrive as the harbour fills up with tents, hospital beds and wheelchairs. When we see the helicopter arrive, we know that someone needs to get to hospital at great speed.
[…] Early in September, we had the dust blowing over from the Sahara. There were many boats crossing at that time. The people were exposed to the punishing sun’s intensified rays with little more than a glass of water a day and a bowl of rice.
Seeing them, it was hard to believe they had even had that much to eat and drink, and they were the lucky ones. Countless boats and bodies never make it.
While the dust was here and when the storms came, we silently hoped for the safety of the little boats we knew were making the crossing. Bodies are sometimes brought in by the fishermen, as they sometimes catch them in their nets. I once heard of a fisherman finding a pregnant woman floating in the sea.
A few days ago, 220 people arrived in one day. When the authorities were cleaning one of the boats before it was destroyed, they found three dead bodies. A woman had arrived with a one-week-old baby, and the baby had died. Her loving husband had sent them instead of himself. The villagers have such sympathy for these desperate people. We sit silently as the convoy heads out of our village and up to the capital, Las Palmas, listening to the sirens and holding back our tears.
I had family visiting on one occasion, we were down by the beach. As our children swam happily in the sea, the boats arrived. The contrast was so sharp.’
Eight: Organisation
Source: Transnational Chain of Actions, Station 2: Sevilla,
Transnational newsletter, 6th Issue, September 2008
www.noborder.org/crossing_borders/
newsletter06en.pdf
‘Sevilla. In September 2006 more than 100 migrant associations, social movements and social organisations made an important step creating the Spanish network for immigrants rights (REDI in Spanish). The goals of this network are to coordinate the different organisations, to exchange information and news and to launch campaigns and mobilisations against existing migratory policies and for immigrant rights in Spain. As part of this process, two weeks before the general elections, REDI called for a common day of action on February 23rd with the slogan ‘Against precarity and for social and labour rights for all’. More than 10,000 people took the streets in Sevilla, Valencia, Burgos, Madrid, Barcelona, Pamplona and Tenerife. In Sevilla, 2,000 people marched demanding a new regularisation process and the closure of detention centres. After this successful day the process of coordination continued with actions and demonstrations on June 21st against the European directive and a national demonstration was held in Madrid on September 14th as part of the World Social Forum on Migration.
Contact with REDI: redi@riseup.net. Report and pictures of February 23rd: estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/73073/index.php Report and pictures of June 21st: estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/74104/index.php.’
Nine: Exploitation
Source: Thousands of African migrants drown trying to reach Europe,
by Vicky Short, World Socialist Website 7 January 2007
http://wsws.org/articles/2007/jan2007/immi-j04.shtml
‘The difference between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ immigrants—often termed as ‘economic migrants’ to distinguish them from what the authorities accept as legitimate asylum-seekers—is in fact determined by the economic interests of Spanish business. Those who are needed to cover undesirable jobs or to work in conditions unacceptable to Spaniards are deemed legal. The Spanish government has stated that in 2007, between 180,000 and 200,000 workers will enter Spain. These will be picked at source—i.e., the countries of origin—according to need, and employers will be entitled to go to those countries and contract them.
The conditions of work of these immigrants workers are exemplified by the situation at a metal factory in Carral, Coruña, northwest of Spain, whose owner and two managers have been arrested and freed on bail with charges. The charges were brought by the trade union Comisiones Obreras, which was alerted by some of the immigrant workers themselves. They worked up to 11 hours; were forced to pay a fine of €60 per day of absence from work, even if it was due to illness or an accident sustained on the premises of the company. If they were absent for three consecutive days, they were sacked. And they had no right to any holidays.
The New Year’s Eve [2006] edition of El Pais praised EU efforts to clamp down on immigration in response to the urging of Spain’s Socialist Party Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. But it went on to insist that immigrant labour was needed, noting that ‘migrants have invigorated the Spanish economy to the extent that they have contributed 50 percent of GDP growth since 2001.’
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