I Crossed the Saharan Desert by Road in Search for a Better Life | EP 6| The Memoir of a Cameroonian
Falence Lemungoh
10,825 views
EPISODE 6 — THE MEMOIR OF A CAMEROONIAN
What would you be willing to risk for a better life?
In this episode of The Memoir of a Cameroonian, we sit down with Mr. Asobo Leonard, a builder whose journey took him far beyond Cameroon in search of opportunities.
Starting in 2012, Leonard travelled from Cameroon to Libya by road—not once, but three times—crossing the vast and dangerous Sahara Desert in pursuit of a better future. Along the way, he experienced the realities of migration, hardship, survival and working as a construction worker in Libya.
But Libya was not the end of the journey.
He attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat to reach Italy, but the attempt failed. Later, he took another dangerous route—the infamous Mexico road, hoping to enter the United States. That journey also did not end as he had hoped.
Behind every migration story is a human being. A dream. A family. A reason for leaving. And sometimes, a painful reality that people back home never get to hear about.
In this deeply personal conversation, Leomard opens up about his upbringing, his decision to leave Cameroon, travelling across the Sahara, life and work in Libya, attempting to cross the Mediterranean, the Mexico route, failure, resilience, and what these experiences taught him about the search for a better life.
This is not just a story about travelling.
It is a story about survival, ambition, sacrifice, failure, hope and the lengths people can go to when they believe there must be something better waiting for them somewhere else.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Trailer
00:59 Intro, Upbringing & Childhood Dreams
04:53 The Decision to Travel Abroad by Road
07:50 Cameroon to Libya
31:16 Life in Libya
42:48 Return to Cameroon
44:38 Failed attempts to USA and Italy
01:24:53 Plans for the Future
🎙️ Welcome to Episode 6 of The Memoir of a Cameroonian
Watch, listen, and share your thoughts in the comments:
If you were in his shoes, how far would you have gone in search of a better life?
---
📌 THE MEMOIR OF A CAMEROONIAN
Real people. Real experiences. Real Cameroon.
The Memoir of a Cameroonian is a podcast documenting the untold experiences of ordinary Cameroonians—their struggles, dreams, failures, victories, careers, journeys and the moments that shaped who they became.
Subscribe to the channel and join us as we tell the stories behind the people.
The MOAC PODCAST
#TheMemoirOfACameroonian #Cameroon #CameroonianStories #Migration #BushFalling #Libya #SaharaDesert #Mediterranean #MexicoRoad #CameroonPodcast #AfricanStories
20 Comments
Thank you for this , it will help some of us to be courageous 🙏
Not that it's even easy abroad....the only thing there is civil amenities and social securities. I'm angry he wasted those years.
I Crossed the Saharan Desert by Road in Search for a Better Life | EP 6| The Memoir of a Cameroonian
Falence Lemungoh
10,825 views
EPISODE 6 — THE MEMOIR OF A CAMEROONIAN
What would you be willing to risk for a better life?
In this episode of The Memoir of a Cameroonian, we sit down with Mr. Asobo Leonard, a builder whose journey took him far beyond Cameroon in search of opportunities.
Starting in 2012, Leonard travelled from Cameroon to Libya by road—not once, but three times—crossing the vast and dangerous Sahara Desert in pursuit of a better future. Along the way, he experienced the realities of migration, hardship, survival and working as a construction worker in Libya.
But Libya was not the end of the journey.
He attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat to reach Italy, but the attempt failed. Later, he took another dangerous route—the infamous Mexico road, hoping to enter the United States. That journey also did not end as he had hoped.
Behind every migration story is a human being. A dream. A family. A reason for leaving. And sometimes, a painful reality that people back home never get to hear about.
In this deeply personal conversation, Leomard opens up about his upbringing, his decision to leave Cameroon, travelling across the Sahara, life and work in Libya, attempting to cross the Mediterranean, the Mexico route, failure, resilience, and what these experiences taught him about the search for a better life.
This is not just a story about travelling.
It is a story about survival, ambition, sacrifice, failure, hope and the lengths people can go to when they believe there must be something better waiting for them somewhere else.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Trailer
00:59 Intro, Upbringing & Childhood Dreams
04:53 The Decision to Travel Abroad by Road
07:50 Cameroon to Libya
31:16 Life in Libya
42:48 Return to Cameroon
44:38 Failed attempts to USA and Italy
01:24:53 Plans for the Future
🎙️ Welcome to Episode 6 of The Memoir of a Cameroonian
Watch, listen, and share your thoughts in the comments:
If you were in his shoes, how far would you have gone in search of a better life?
---
📌 THE MEMOIR OF A CAMEROONIAN
Real people. Real experiences. Real Cameroon.
The Memoir of a Cameroonian is a podcast documenting the untold experiences of ordinary Cameroonians—their struggles, dreams, failures, victories, careers, journeys and the moments that shaped who they became.
Subscribe to the channel and join us as we tell the stories behind the people.
The MOAC PODCAST
#TheMemoirOfACameroonian #Cameroon #CameroonianStories #Migration #BushFalling #Libya #SaharaDesert #Mediterranean #MexicoRoad #CameroonPodcast #AfricanStories