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My Family’s Lies - A Childhood Between Togo and Munich

December 19, 2024

The fact that 32-year-old Rita leads such a successful life today is nothing short of a miracle. Rita was born in Togo in 1991 and was raised by her grandparents. For a long time, she thought they were her parents.

My Family’s Lies - A Childhood Between Togo and Munich
Image: BR

Hers was a happy childhood - but it ended abruptly.

For many years, Rita thought her grandparents were her parents.Image: BR

At the age of nine, she‘s told that her biological mother lives in Munich and from now on, she must live with her.  

Image: BR

Rita travels to Germany alone, where she receives a rather cold reception from her supposed mother. When Rita is abused by an acquaintance of her mother's, she’s too afraid to say anything.

Her friend helped Rita in difficult times.Image: BR

With the help of her friends and a teacher, Rita finally moves into a child protection centre. Rita's suspicion that this woman is not her mother at all becomes more and more entrenched. A relative confesses to her that she is in fact her aunt and that her real mother lives in Togo

After many traumatic experiences, Rita started her own family.Image: BR

Rita bounces back from the shock and at the age of 17, she begins a course in restaurant management. Everything seems to be going well, but the traumas of her childhood soon catch up with her. After several unsuccessful suicide attempts, Rita realizes: to get answers to her questions, she needs to travel to Togo. There, she uncovers layer upon layer of lies.

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