The Years We Have Been Nowhere (2023)

Description

The Years We Have Been Nowhere is a documentary that follows the real-life stories of several people — including Sulemain, Madame Kamakuye, and Patrick — who left Sierra Leone in search of better opportunities in Europe and the United States. Despite working, paying taxes, and building new lives abroad, they encounter seemingly minor bureaucratic issues that lead to their detention and forced deportation back to Africa. Returning home empty-handed, they face rejection and stigma from their families and communities, becoming outcasts twice — first through deportation and then through social exclusion upon their return. The film highlights the emotional and social consequences of migration, exile, and the harsh realities faced by those labelled as “nowhere” by the systems meant to protect them.