Free Review Copies of OIA Books Now Available
Wu-Tang is for the children and OIA is out with two books that tackle the same topic — the human REALITY that migration was, is, and always will be — with two different approaches for people of all ages and stages.
Ohio Is My Second Country is a coloring book drawn by a Cincinnati high school student, Shema Asifiwe, who was born in a Burundian refugee camp. Shema came to the US just before the pandemic, and learned both English and how to draw from the coloring books his teachers sent home during quarantine.
From Welcome To Deportation is a policy book and personal journey written by Demba Ndiath, Ohio Immigrant Alliance’s Advocacy Director. Through interviews with West African immigrants, lawyers, and a former judge — as well as his own experiences — Demba examines the crucible of exclusion vs. inclusion in U.S. immigration policy, and offers recommendations for change.
Journalists, book reviewers, librarians, educators, and camp, scout, or other group leaders may request free review copies via these media kits (coloring book; policy book).
One connection between the books are Shema’s breathtaking drawings of “The Bottom Route (By Land)” and “The Bottom Route (By Sea),” which depict scenes in Demba’s book and were also inspired by Souleye Ball’s poem “Dark Journey,” performed at OIA’s Columbus Arts Festival appearance in 2025. This year at the Columbus Arts Festival, Mauritanian-Ohioan superstar Salif Sarr performed some of his greatest hits at a concert to launch both books, “Ohio Is My Second Country.” Salif is also featured on the coloring book’s accompanying playlist.
“These projects are all connected, just like we are all connected,” said Lynn Tramonte, OIA’s Executive Director. She edited and published both books through her communications firm, Anacaona. “In Shema’s drawing ‘Mountain Harvest,’ a Honduran family gathers vegetables to sell at the market and eat at home, just like farmers in Ohio. ‘Me and My Nayi’ was inspired by some Mauritanian friends who once worked as livestock herders. We went to a camel sanctuary in Medina County, and they had a blast talking to the owners. These are people who choose to live in Ohio, while so many of our young people are leaving. They are happy and feel at home here. They see it as a good place to live, get a job, and raise a family. Yet, some people in goverment are saying they need to leave.
“In Demba’s book, you’ll learn things about U.S. immigration policy you probably didn’t know. This system wasn’t designed to function the way we think it does, or should. It needs an overhaul. And instead of doing their jobs and fixing it, politicians tell us lies about immigrants and try to pit groups of people against each other. We want these books to get the widest audiences possible to educate our people, and our lawmakers. We need a better immigration system. Because Ohio is home to people who were born all over the world. This is their home now. They are good people and we want them to stay.”
