“My name is Alpha, like Alpha Blondy, the singer. But I’m not a singer, I’m a cabinet-maker. My surname is Coulibaly.”My new book Alpha which I’ve made with illustrator Barroux has been translated from French to English by Sarah Ardizonne. In the book, I don’t talk for Alpha. He talks through my pen. He tells us of the urgency of his journey, of his courage. He tells us of his hopes, and his delusions. He tells us of his humour. Because laughter is a means of survival.He talks, we listen. He walks, we follow. Little by little, we realise that he is one of our family. And we are his.