Between Two Worlds: The Journey of a Son of Waku Kungo, the ancient Santa Comba, Cela - Angola

I was born in 1959, in the Cela hospital in Kissanga Kungo, and raised in Waku Kungo, the former Santa Comba, in the heart of Kwanza Sul, Angola. My childhood was colored by the vibrant tones of the sanzalas, rhythmed by the sounds of conversations and laughter that echoed through the dirt streets. Every soccer game with friends, every game in the warm dust of our city, became part of a memory that I carry with me to this day, a symbol of a time when simplicity mixed with the purity of childhood.

From Angola to the World On August 6, 1975, everything changed. I left Angola in a hurry, fleeing the turmoil that ended the colonial era and opened the doors to a new, but uncertain, chapter for the country. I crossed the Atlantic and landed in California, United States, where I found a completely different world. There, in the land of opportunities, I built a new life and, some time later, I graduated in Electronic Engineering from Santa Clara University.

Building a Life in Silicon Valley In America, I started a solid family and began a successful career in Silicon Valley. Married with three children - two boys and a girl - we maintained a home full of love and unity. However, a part of me always remained in Angola, suspended, anchored in those memories of Waku Kungo.

The sound of the market, the echo of laughter and the wise advice of the elders became comforting ghosts that continued to accompany me, guiding my decisions and shaping my way of seeing the world.

Reflections and Nostalgia Today, when I look in the mirror, with silver hair, I remember the boy who ran through the streets of Waku Kungo, and I see not only a man, but the guardian of a story and a legacy. A legacy of resilience, humanity and lessons that transcend borders and generations.

This is the journey of an Angolan who crossed oceans and built bridges, with one foot in the red sand of his homeland and the other in the innovation that moves the modern world. Although my body lives in distant lands, my heart and spirit remain forever in Waku Kungo, dancing to the rhythm of a past that never fades.

The Cultural Bridge My life in America brought me innovation and progress, each technological advance in Silicon Valley carried within it the simplicity and complexities of my native Angola. While there, creative solutions emerged from the ability to do a lot with a little, here I learned to optimize resources in a different way. Each completed project was a reminder that Angolan ingenuity has always lived within me, and that true innovation transcends technology and codes.

Legacy and Cultural Transmission As I reflect on my career, I realize that the greatest legacy I leave for my children is not the devices I helped create, but the cultural bond I built. I taught them the traditions, language, and stories of Angola, ensuring that the warmth and soul of Waku Kungo would be part of their lives, even though they were born on American soil.

A Return to the Past and a Look to the Future Over time, the desire to revisit Angola and Waku Kungo only grew. On a return trip, I walked the streets where I grew up, now renewed with the energy of new generations. Revisiting the market of my childhood, where I saw children playing and trading, I felt nostalgia mixed with novelty, as if the past and the present were intertwined.

On that return, I began a project focused on improving the educational and technological infrastructure of Waku Kungo. With the support of colleagues from Silicon Valley, we introduced STEM education programs in local schools, bringing new horizons to local youth. This project brought more than knowledge; it brought hope and a glimpse of what the future may hold for that community.

A Heart Divided Between Three Worlds Today, I divide my time between North America, Portugal, and Angola. Each visit to Angola brings me new stories, challenges, but also joys and rewards, while strengthening the cultural and emotional bridges that I have built throughout my life. Although the work is hard and cultural differences create unexpected challenges, the passion and resilience of the Angolan people drive me forward.

Conclusion This is my story: a man’s journey between two lands, enriched by each circuit designed and each memory relived, always with his heart anchored in the roots of Waku Kungo. Here, memories of the past and hopes for the future coexist in harmony, showing that, despite everything, the echo of Waku Kungo never ceases within me, and I, as its son, will never cease to listen to it.