“Welcome to Angola. Something always goes wrong”
I used this title the same way as the Angolan official who originally said it, not as a harsh judgment, but as a lighthearted way to deal with everyday struggles. Just like the phrase AWA – “Africa Wins Again,” it reminds us not to take setbacks too seriously. I got a front-row seat to some of Angola’s struggles, and I had a few of my own. The challenges I faced gave me a story to tell, and it made me love the country and its people more.
I read this comment by a YouTube user on a video about Angola:
“Angola is no longer the land [at] the end of the world, these images no longer correspond to the current moment of our country. Stop talking about war when you want to refer to my country now! Angola is undoubtedly one of the countries of the future, with incredible potential and with young people eager for knowledge and contributing to the development of the country.”
War has had a big influence on Angola’s past, and its impacts will still be felt for years to come. However, the people of Angola have chosen not to be defined by war. Instead of playing the role of victim and wallowing in the unfairness of the hand they have been dealt, they have chosen instead to rise above the challenges. A lot has gone wrong in Angola, but only a few things need to go right for it to flourish. The country is blessed with incredible natural resources that could drive growth. It has unparalleled natural beauty that could support a strong tourism industry. It has a bounty of fertile land that could once again feed not just Angola but much of Africa. For the first time in decades, it has leadership that openly condemns corruption. Most importantly, its young people have a hunger for the knowledge and skills that will let them participate in the global economy. They have put war behind them and are eager to take their place in the world.
On 6 April 2020 (while Nathan and I were waiting in the apartment in Luanda), Adjany Costa of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project was appointed Minister of Culture, Environment, and Tourism by President João Lourenço, an indication that he wanted someone with energy and new ideas to drive innovation. The Okavango River Basin was recognized as the 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage site in June of 2014. Angola is connected to the world around it in inextricable ways. The future of the Okavango Delta, the last wild wetland in the world, rides on Angola’s ability to rise to the occasion. It is poised to be a shining example to Africa and to the world. Angola’s tourist visa, once one of the most difficult to get, is now easy to obtain for citizens of many countries. Angola will rise. You should check it out.
This is Africa. Welcome to Angola
The author, Michael, lives in Menongue with his wife and four children, having moved to Angola in November of 2022. They live at the OM base where Wessel and Joan van der Merwe continue to serve the people of Angola.
The old Hotel Residencial is in the background
Welcome to Angola 