I first talked about this war in my journalism class. I was surprised by the interest of my classmates. After the class, I remember one classmate telling me that was a big story.

I first witness the 2010 Ivorian civil war early in my life. At 11 years old. During that war when it was bombing inside and my family found shelter in my brother’s mezzanine level room, my brother handed me a rosary bead, and told me to pray while we were facing physical survival.

I first reconnected with that story in my history class at least from a distance. Studies of war and genocide brought a memories of the civil war and I sensed a purpose build within. I wanted to find answers to memories I had long buried.

Fourteen years later and I first wrote about the rosary in my history class this semester. As part of the assignment, I must also come here and publish 1500 characters about my object. 

The rosary bead is an object of war. I feel like the object has followed me even when it was silent. It brings me comfort and at times great distress. But I am very happy it followed along because it is the a powerful link that I have to my family history and to that moment in that room with my brother during the war.

this moment in that room where I find shelter was when the rosary bead made its first appearance. And thanks to the rosary I will always remember. 

– Niagne Jean-Philippe Djehoury

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant