Heartbeat detectors, CO2 measurement tools and sniffer dogs; the UK border control in Calais, uses a lot of tools to catch migrants who try to get into the United Kingdom without documents. These hi-tech devices make it hard for people to reach their promised land. Trucks get scanned, so stowaways have to find a way to fool a heartbeat machine, hold their breath and get rid of their human scent. Is that even possible?

In overcrowded, small boats arranged by human smugglers, people risk their lives to reach Europe. Dayo from Nigeria and Ferhan from Somalia made this dangerous journey by sea. Some of their fellow travellers passed away, but as fortunate survivors they ended up in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. Dayo doesn't like to recall his trip: 'I don't even want to remember the sea'.

Living conditions in Europe can be poor and dangerous. For many immigrants, it is hard to find a house and often buildings are unsafe. Wahabu from Senegal lives in Paris, and got the shock of his life when his house caught fire. 'The first thing I saw was my mother coming down form a fireman's ladder. When I saw the flames, I realized not everyone would come out alive', he memorizes.

Being illegal in Europe is tough. You hardly have any rights and the laws are getting stricter. In 2006, the French government repeals a law that legalised 'sans papiers' ('the without papers') living in the country for more than 10 years. Anzoumane Sissoko from Mali is the spokesman for CSP 75, a protest group. From May 2008 to August 2010, his movement occupied two buildings in Paris, demanding papers for thousands of undocumented immigrants.

Michael has been living and working in Spain for a long time, but since the economical crisis times have changed. He used to have a job in construction, but there is no work there anymore. No work means no money. Michael pays the price, he is forced to live on the streets. In other parts of Europe, immigrants face similar problems.

Without the right documents it is difficult to get an official job, but nothing is impossible. Some undocumented immigrants choose to work in the ‘hidden economy’, but the downside to working illegally is that you have no rights, and exploitation is just around corner. Others borrow a legal friend’s documents and pretend to be that person in order to get a job: a practice known as ‘cloning’ identities.

Finding a suitable job in Europe can be quite hard. A good education back home isn't a key to succes. Binata (not her real name) is a trained accountant, but works at the beach in Valencia, Spain, braiding hair. Binata: 'I don't like braiding at all, and I don't like to run after people and sell stuff. For me, it's humiliating'.

Love, marriage and papers seem to be no match made in heaven. Sister Fa, a successful Senegalese hip hop artist, lives in Berlin with her German husband and daughter. The couple met in Senegal, but decided to live in Germany. For Sister Fa, it was relatively easy to obtain documents: 'I was lucky that my husband put me in a comfortable situation'. But some of her friends struggle to get papers. What are the options? Marrying for love, papers, or both?

Turid from the Netherlands fell in love with Moussé from Senegal when she was staying in Senegal. She went back, but realized that Moussé was the one: ‘I called him and said: 'I am coming to Senegal next month and I want to marry you.' He replied: 'Can I call you back tomorrow?’

‘I beat my chest I made it in Europe, so if I did you can do it too, let’s go!’ In his track ‘Surprising Europe’ K-Nel tells how he feels about surviving in Europe. We asked African artists to express their feelings about living in Europe in a song. What is their message?