Spanish Olympian and endurance runner Roberto Mandje brought the Africa 7: Run Your Purpose challenge to Kigali on Saturday, October 10, running his sixth marathon in seven days as part of an initiative promoting mental health, physical activity and ambition among young Africans. Mandje covered 42.2 kilometres across Kigali after completing previous legs of the challenge in Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Namibia and Ghana. According to the event schedule, the initiative is set to conclude in Angola on Sunday, October 11. The challenge involves running seven marathons in seven African countries over seven consecutive days. It aims to use sport to promote resilience, purpose and community engagement while showcasing Africa’s people and development potential. In Kigali, Mandje was welcomed by the Imbuto Foundation. His route took him past Amahoro Stadium, through Gacuriro and the Chez Lando area, and via Kacyiru, the Kigali Convention Centre roundabout and Gishushu before returning to Amahoro Stadium. He completed the Kigali marathon in four hours. “Every country so far has showed a different environment and challenge; Rwanda conditions were perfect,” Mandje said. ALSO READ: ‘Rwanda is my second motherland,’ says Ukrainian Olympic champion Beleniuk Despite the physical demands of running a marathon each day, he said the warm reception he had received across the continent continued to motivate him. “The fatigue is also high, so I'm trying to balance it,” he said. “Everywhere I go I receive such a warm welcome and I learn from the effort being made in these cities and countries.” Mandje added that the people and organisations he had encountered along the way reinforced his belief in the initiative's purpose. “It gives me motivation and inspiration and shows me that what we are doing and trying to do with Africa 7 has real purpose and impact,” he said. ‘Do not put limits on yourself’ Beyond the physical feat, Mandje said he wanted to inspire young Africans to recognise their potential and pursue their ambitions regardless of their backgrounds. Asked what message he had for aspiring athletes in Rwanda, he highlighted the country's mountainous terrain as an advantage for runners seeking to develop their endurance and strength. “You have the perfect environment to train in. You have the mountains, so if we're talking specifically about running, these are the ideal conditions to become truly strong,” he said. Mandje also encouraged African athletes and entrepreneurs to rise above stereotypes and perceptions linked to their origins. “For entrepreneurs and athletes, it's simply not to put limits on yourself,” he said. “I know that sometimes there are stigmas associated with being from Africa or a specific country in Africa regarding how the outside world is perceived, but everyone is capable. No one should have limitations, so don't be limited. Dream of what you want to dream of and know that you can achieve it.” He said inspiring children and young people was central to his mission, adding that raising their expectations could have a lasting impact across generations. “My goal is to inspire the next generation of young children in Africa, because if we can do that, we will raise expectations, and that will continue to be nurtured from one generation to the next,” he said. Angola awaits for final marathon The Africa 7 team has also indicated that the journey is being filmed for a documentary intended for Netflix. However, no release date or confirmed Netflix distribution details have been established in the information available. Following his Kigali run, Mandje is scheduled to travel to Angola for the seventh and final marathon, bringing the seven-day, seven-country challenge to a close on Sunday, October 11.
