Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – was the central concept chosen for the celebration of World Africa Day, marked on 25 May. The initiative, organised by the African Students Association at Instituto Superior Técnico (NEAIST) and held at the Técnico Innovation Center powered by Fidelidade, featured an exhibition of African art and a panel discussion on the continent’s diversity.
“Many students find themselves far from their home countries. Initiatives like this help to recreate a sense of closeness to home and to their roots, something that is not always easy to maintain when living and studying on another continent”, said Cyntia Matias, a Computer Science and Engineering undergraduate student at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, and a member of NEAIST. For her, this initiative has “special significance” for the African student community, providing “a moment of connection” to their origins and culture.
Furthermore, she emphasises that the event is an “important” opportunity to raise awareness of the African continent’s diversity, which is “often viewed in a simplistic manner”.
As an African descendant, Ludovico Tonela, a master’s student in Energy Engineering and Management, highlights the importance of this type of event. “It is a unique opportunity for those born here who have never experienced their origins at close quarters, within a community, to learn about their own history, for a people without a history have no future”. The student also emphasises the event’s role in fostering integration. “Socialising fosters a deep sense of belonging to a constantly growing community”, he says.
Marta Lourenço and Sóstenes Rego were invited to participate in a panel discussion on the identity, history, culture and representation of the African continent, moderated by Celine Acia, Vice-President of NEAIST. The event also featured the roundtable discussion ‘Achismos’. “This moment was particularly important because it brought the experiences, opinions and lived realities of the African students at Técnico to the centre of the conversation”, explained Cyntia Matias.
The programme featured an art exhibition showcasing “the richness, diversity and creativity” of the African continent, which included handicrafts by Pure Handcrafts Kenya and Markonde Nangashinu Ntaluma (from Mozambique), as well as clothing by Jerrosa Nigeria.
World Africa Day was celebrated under the theme of ‘Ubuntu’, which translates to ‘I am because we are’, or ‘humanity for all’, a concept of Sub-Saharan philosophy. “We wanted this idea to be present throughout the programme, in the way we welcomed people, in the conversations we facilitated, in the cultural activities, and in the overarching message of unity, belonging and community that we aimed to convey,” the student emphasised.
Rogério Colaço, President of Técnico, Pedro Amaral, Vice-President of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Luís Castro, a professor at Técnico, attended the event. “It was very meaningful to have the presence and institutional support of members from the Técnico community”, said Cyntia Matias, who highlighted the importance of the initiative in building bridges between different communities. “More than just organising an event, we felt we were creating a space for gathering, representation and dialogue within Técnico”.
