Doro, a book launch for Nottingham Refugee Week

‘This is Doro and he is beautiful.’ So begins the extraordinary story of Doro Goumãneh who faced an unimaginable series of adversities on his journey from persecution in The Gambia to refuge in France.

Doro was once a relatively prosperous fisherman, but when the country’s fishing rights were stolen and secret police began arresting Gambian fishermen, Doro left home, fleeing for his life. From Senegal to Libya to Algeria and back to Libya, Doro fell victim to the cycle of abuse targeted at refugees. He endured shipwreck, torture and being left for dead in a mass grave.

In 2019, during one of his many attempts to reach Europe, Doro was rescued by the boat Sea-Watch 3 in the Mediterranean, where he met volunteer Brendan Woodhouse. While waiting out a two-week standoff – floating off the coast of Sicily, as political leaders accused Sea-Watch, a German organisation that helps migrants, of facilitating illegal entry to Europe – a great friendship formed.

Told through both Doro’s and Brendan’s perspectives, Doro touches on questions of policy and politics, brutality and bravery, survival and belonging – issues that confront refugees everywhere. But ultimately it is one man’s incredible story – that of Doro: refugee, hero, champion, survivor and friend.

Brendan has done ten missions in the Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of Lesvos, and been part of teams that have rescued around 8,500 people.

He is assistant secretary of Nottingham Fire Brigades Union and the first recipient of the FBU solidarity medal given for his rescue work and general refugee rights campaigning. He regularly speaks on behalf of Derby Refugee Solidarity, Stand up to Racism, Sea-Watch and The Fire Brigades Union.

Brendan will be speaking about Doro’s story and the wider issue of rescue in the Mediterranean. We will be joined on Zoom by Doro, from France, as he is not allowed into the UK.

This event forms part of Nottingham Refugee Week and is supported by Nottinghamshire Fire Brigades Union.

Tickets are free for refugees and asylum seekers and £5.00 for others. All ticket money will be donated to the Sea-Watch refugee charity.

Light refreshments provided