To me, being African embodies the spirit of “Ubuntu”—“I am, because we are.” As Nelson Mandela explained, this doesn’t negate self-advancement; it asks us to pursue it in ways that uplift our communities. I am Manuel Adriano and these are my reflections from Angola.
Being African means enabling our communities to grow and thrive.
The spirit of Ubuntu—uplifting our communities.
Growing up, I noticed that young Africans are often encouraged to pursue set career paths like law, medicine, or engineering. But in a changing world, the question should shift from “What do you want to be?” to “What problems do you want to solve?”
Between 2021 and 2023, I volunteered at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, where I learned about the African Continental Free Trade Area, launched in 2019. It is the world’s largest free trade area, aiming to bolster Africa’s presence in the global market—a testament to Africa’s transformation.
African governments alone cannot tackle all societal challenges. African entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises play a vital role in creating jobs, lowering consumer costs, and reducing reliance on imports. By focusing on solving societal issues, African businesses can bring essential services to the people and empower Africa's future.
So, what societal problems do you want to solve?
My name is Manuel Adriano. I am a 33-year-old man from Angola. I am, because we are!
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The #54FacesofAfrica campaign, launched in December 2023 at the 6th YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, is a collaborative initiative by United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat (YCAS). This campaign empowers African youth by offering them a platform to share their stories, solutions, and innovations, and contribute to dialogue and policy on Africa’s development.
Manuel was part of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2024 and delivered a motivational talk on his journey as a volunteer and a youth participant at the UNV-led side event on 9 November in Kigali.
To access the e-version of the 54 Faces of Africa magazine, please click here.
Delivering a motivational talk on his journey as a volunteer and a youth participant at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2024 in Kigali in November. @ UNV, 2024.