The Happy Angolan

Custodio Victorino survived a traumatic childhood in Angola’s civil war – seeing death and violence all around him – before coming to Nelson eight years ago. A chance meeting with a local dentist brought together two men with vastly different backgrounds on a journey to document a life marked by resilience, compassion, and the power of Ubuntu. Charles Anderson reports.

All Custodio Victorino could see was a blinding flash. Then, a leg in the air, with the boot still attached.

There had been a huge explosion deep in the Angolan bush while Custodio, then only in his teens, was making the journey from his native country into neighbouring Namibia. It was the height of the Angolan civil war – a 30-year power struggle between three liberation movements after Portugal’s withdrawal from the African nation, fuelled also by oil and diamond exploitation, which caused massive displacement, death, and a landmine crisis.

“There was virtually nowhere in the country, even remote areas, where mines had not been laid,” Custodio says. “So we had to remain vigilant, especially when walking along tracks and near roads.”

After the flash, everything turned black. Then a voice through the smoke: “It’s gone. My leg has gone.”

The young man passed out into a crater caused by the land mine. Custodio had to look away when he saw the man’s injury – exposed white bone, flesh peeled away and blood everywhere.

The catchphrase in Angola was ‘Stay alert, stay alive.’

Custodio was only 17 when he began the arduous journey to escape Angola. He had lost both his parents years earlier. That odyssey saw him hit by shrapnel from a grenade and witness bloodshed and loss of life as daily occurrences.

From the war-torn streets of Angola, all the way to Nelson, Custodio's journey is one of survival, resilience, and the transformative power of human connection and divine intervention. This is the story of a man who, despite unimaginable hardship, has not only found peace but has also become a beacon of hope for others.

Now that story is chronicled in the book The Happy Angolan, which is a collaborative effort with Ross Ferguson, a local man who was drawn into Custodio's life by a simple cry for help.

The seeds of this collaboration were sown in 2016 when Custodio, having recently moved to Richmond, stumbled upon a sign for a community church. He was in a desperate situation, facing business challenges, rent arrears, and the recent cancer diagnosis of his wife. He called the number on the sign, which happened to be Ross Ferguson’s – a local community leader and dentist known for his work with the Richmond Community Church and its food ministry.

“Immediately I sensed that he's someone with a genuine need,” Ross says. “I was impressed by Custodio's humility and his refusal to see himself as a victim.”

Custodio remembers that he called Ross’s number and left a message on his voicemail. Ross called him back within hours.

“I was not in a good place,” Custodio says. “I just wanted to talk to someone about my situation, to get it out, you know, just to hear what advice they will give me. But because I am always a lonely person and very private, I don't talk much to people. I decided, ‘Okay, if I talk to a stranger, someone I don't know, maybe I can open up a little bit more.’”

That decision set in motion a partnership that would span years and culminate in a powerful memoir.

“I have always been motivated by a desire to see people’s broken lives restored to wholeness and find meaning and purpose in their lives and work,” Ross says.

As a dentist, he was impacted by the mantra of Sir John Walsh, former Dean of the Otago University School of Dentistry, who said: “Patients are people, not just mouths.”

Ross saw many such people in his overseas work in places like Lebanon, Cambodia, and Mozambique. Meeting Custodio was a way for him to help share a story from the perspective of someone who grew up in the throes of war.

Custodio, in turn, hoped that his story could be a voice for countless others who have no voice and whose stories may never be told.

Custodio's early life was marked by the brutal realities of the Angolan Civil War. Born in Benguela, he grew up in the 1970s and 80s, knowing only war. Violence was normal; seeing people die in the streets was a common occurrence. Orphaned at 12, he navigated a world of conflict, loss, and displacement.

“Growing up without parents probably was the worst,” Custodio says.

He recalls having to make his own way, learning through suffering, and seeing the struggles of others.

His journey took him through war zones, across borders, and eventually to Namibia, where he lived in the Osire Refugee Camp before making his way to South Africa. There, he lived for 16 years, experiencing xenophobia which led him to seek refuge again – this time in New Zealand.

He arrived in Auckland with his wife and baby and later moved to Richmond for a business venture, where he met Ross.

As Ross learned more about Custodio’s past, he felt compelled to share his story.

“I said, ‘Look, your story needs to be written down and recorded,’” Ross recalls.

Custodio, initially hesitant, questioned who would be interested in his story. However, as they continued to talk, Custodio realised the potential for his experiences to inspire others, and he agreed to the collaboration.

The writing process was a long and personal journey. They met regularly, and Ross recorded their conversations. Custodio wrote down as much as he could, while Ross did background research on Angola. This approach allowed the two men to delve deep into Custodio’s life and journey, which could only be described as miraculous.

“The more we talked, it opened up, and it was just layer upon layer,” Ross says.

He aimed to capture not just the events but also the motivations and attitudes behind Custodio’s choices.

“I really learned a lot, and that helped me understand his story.”

For Custodio, reliving the trauma was emotionally challenging.

“Sometimes it was a bit hard,” Custodio admits. “You know, remembering my teens, sometimes even now, I still get emotional.”

Despite the difficulties, he recognised the therapeutic value of sharing his experiences. He was able to talk about things he had not even shared with his own wife and children, making himself vulnerable.

Custodio describes the most challenging aspect of his life as growing up without parents. Ross reflects on the fact that Custodio saw fighting and death as normal while growing up. The collaborative writing process was key to helping Custodio process his experiences.

The Happy Angolan highlights the plight of children in war, the long-lasting impacts of trauma, and the importance of resilience. It also explores the power of human connection and the importance of community, concepts central to the philosophy of Ubuntu.

Custodio says Ubuntu is about recognising the interconnectedness of people.

“We are what we are because of other people,” he says.

He emphasises the importance of helping one another, and how he would not have survived if it were not for those who helped him along the way.

Custodio says the first time he held the published book in his hands, he was overwhelmed.

“I didn't expect that it would be a big book,” he says. “Maybe only a few pages.”

Ross recalls that he had taken photos of Custodio during their conversations, and he decided to use one for the cover. Custodio says that he was surprised at how big the photo on the cover was, especially as he did not even initially want his name on the book, let alone his photo on the cover.

The cover features a close up of Custodio smiling, revealing a faded scar on his left cheek that he suffered after a car accident when he was two years old.

They printed a couple of hundred copies locally, and they have mostly sold out.

Custodio’s message to readers is one of hope. He wants people to know that “no matter what situation you are in, there is always another next day.”

He wants readers to remember the importance of Ubuntu, and how it means that people need each other.

Today, Custodio is happy living in Richmond, Tasman, with his wife and two daughters. His wife has been progressing well on her cancer journey. He has set up his own successful cleaning business, and he says that his clients have been keen to buy a copy of his book.

Custodio and Ross have formed a close friendship through this project. Custodio says they are “all in one,” while Ross describes their relationship as that of “brothers.”

Almost every day, Custodio thinks about his journey, returning to when he was just a young boy in the middle of a civil war.

“I was twelve years old, feeling lost and alone. Someone told me I was now an orphan and that I would need to find where I belonged. I had no idea what to do or where to go. I felt forgotten; all I owned were my clothes – a shirt and shorts – not even a pair of shoes. I remember wandering the streets for several days, not knowing where I was going other than looking for a place to call home. I wanted desperately to find where I belonged.”

Almost forty years later, he is alive to tell the story.

He is thankful to all the people and organisations that helped him along the way. He is thankful to the country and the government of Aotearoa New Zealand for accepting him and enabling his family to become citizens.

“Now that we have finally found our home and a community where we belong, we feel accepted.”

“I am a very happy person, and even today, I do not blame anyone for my problems. I have survived wars and physical difficulties with my appearance, shrapnel wounds from a grenade, my wife being sick numerous times, and a financial crisis. However, I am still a happy man and confident about the future. I have enjoyed working together and writing this book, which makes me feel valued as a human being.”

Looking ahead, Custodio says his aim is to be a voice for those who have no voice. He wants the stories of displaced children, refugees, and the homeless to be heard. He wants to inspire people to know that they can change their circumstances through hard work and study. Custodio wants to help and give hope to those who feel stuck or who have been struggling.

Ross and Custodio are considering further options for the book, but for now, they are just glad that the story is out there. Getting it recorded is the most important thing.

It has been a long journey, but given his name, Custodio Victorino, meaning “victorious one,” the outcome seems almost inevitable.

To purchase a copy of the book, please make payment to account 02-0747-0021942-001 and send your name, phone number, email, and postal address to [email protected]

The purchase price is $35, which includes free delivery in Nelson, Stoke and Richmond. For delivery elsewhere, please add $7.50 for courier services.