A Postcard from Luanda

- Reflections on Home, Reality, and Change

I write to you from Luanda, my birthplace, a city that bears both the sweetness of my earliest memories and the weight of a complex history.

Since moving to Lisbon at the tender age of six, I've often grappled with the duality of my identity - feeling both tethered to the lively pulse of Luanda and the vibrant energy of Lisbon. Reconnecting with my roots in Luanda has been a journey of discovery, of remembering, and of understanding the layers of my heritage that extend beyond my personal recollections.

One cannot ignore the fact that this process of reconnection often collides with the romanticized images we create about our heritage. While we find comfort and identity in our past, we must also acknowledge the realities that come with it.

As a child, I was shielded from the harsh realities of displacement, injustices, and the struggle for survival that many in Luanda faced, including my own parents. This is a reality shared by many across the globe, forcibly removed from their lands, carrying memories stained with pain. It's a narrative that's been written by the actions of governments from the Global North, and yet, its chapters continue to unfold in the lives of many individuals.

Each visit to Luanda brings me closer to understanding my parents' past, their hardships, and the resilience it took to create a better life for our family in Lisbon. While I can navigate the streets, indulge in familiar flavors, and converse in the local dialect, there's an underlying layer of concern and protective love from my parents. A subtle reminder of the life they once knew and their fears for the challenges that still persist.

I spent the last days delving into the depths of my family's history. I walked through the neighborhoods where they lived, understood their struggles, and realized the courage it took for them to navigate their life paths.

Sharing this postcard from Luanda, I invite you to engage in open and honest conversations about our heritage, the realities of our world, and the resilience inherent in our communities. In facing these realities, we can weave a narrative that's not only authentic and powerful but one that also sparks change.

Our stories are complex, filled with triumphs and tribulations, joy and sadness, hope and despair. But they are ours to tell, and through them, we can understand, learn, and grow.

Stay connected, stay reflective, and remember - our shared humanity binds us together, no matter where our journeys take us.

With love and resilience,

Antonia Mussache