Law – 21.06.2026: “Mains serrées” – A Song for the Freedom of a Young Nigerian Woman

Dole, Jura – 21.06.2026: In the small town of Dole in the French Jura, a remarkable solidarity movement has formed. Ayomidé, a 19-year-old Nigerian woman who came to France with her family two years ago, is facing the rejection of her asylum application. Her teachers and classmates at Lycée Jacques Duhamel responded with dismay and decided to support her in the fight for an extraordinary regularization.

Under the leadership of Damien Mollet, the deputy director of the school, the song “Mains serrées” (Hands Clasped Tight) was created. Mollet himself wrote the lyrics dedicated to Ayomidé, expressing the young woman’s hopes and longings. She sings: “I only ask for freedom… Equality… Brotherliness.” These words represent her wish to live in a country that shares her values.

Ayomidé’s family fled Nigeria two years ago after being threatened. Their arrival in France was accompanied by hopes for protection and a better future. However, the rejection of her asylum application calls these expectations into question. In an interview, she said: “I do not want to return to a country where there is no freedom.” Her determination to stay here and complete school remains strong.

The school community was deeply affected by Ayomidé’s fate. One teacher emphasized: “We cannot accept that so much courage, diligence, and integration ends with homelessness and deportation.” In response, students, teachers, and supporters launched an online petition urging the authorities to grant Ayomidé and her family an exceptional permit.

The music video for “Mains serrées” has been released on YouTube and is now reaching a large audience. Ayomidé’s powerful voice and the emotional message of the song move many people. It impressively shows how music can be used as an expression of hope and resistance.

Support for Ayomidé goes beyond the school: many citizens from Dole and other places have expressed their solidarity and joined the petition. This collective commitment underscores how music and community can send a strong message for justice and humanity.

Ayomidé’s story is not only that of a young person fighting for her rights but also of a community standing up for its members. It calls on us to live and defend the values of freedom, equality, and brotherliness—values deeply rooted in France.