Africa 7: Run Your Purpose
Africa 7: Run Your Purpose is a continent-wide initiative to highlight Africa’s emerging economies by showcasing seven countries through seven marathons over seven days. Each nation symbolizes Africa’s endurance, resilience, and progress.
During the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon, the idea of Africa 7 was born when Olympian runner Roberto Mandje served as the pacer for ABO CEO & Chairman Zandre Campos, and they discussed their mutual African roots, love for the continent, and the need to create more global attention around the progress being made there.
Africa 7 will spotlight the significant growth across sectors like education, healthcare, natural resources, innovation, tourism, energy and entrepreneurship. A marathon in each of these unique countries is a powerful way to bring global investment attention to the incredible opportunities each region has to offer. Designed to uplift entire communities, it is also an enriching way to engage businesses, educators and students in a continent-wide event that extends so much further than sport.
Schedule
Oct 5
Equatorial Guinea
Strengthening healthcare systems to unlock long-term economic resilience.
Oct 6
São Tomé and Príncipe
Opening pathways to economic opportunity through sustainable tourism.
Oct 7
South Africa
Scaling tech innovation for Africa and beyond.
Oct 8
Namibia
Fueling energy development for national growth.
Oct 9
Ghana
Driving innovation through entrepreneurship.
Oct 10
Rwanda
Powering global supply chains with mineral resources.
Oct 11
Angola
Powering its next generation of growth through investment in education.
About Us
Africa 7 is hosted by ABO Capital, an international investment firm that builds opportunities in emerging markets across Africa. Led by global entrepreneur Zandre Campos, ABO Capital invests in companies that create value and promote economic development throughout Africa. With a focus on education and technology, ABO Capital also operates in the financial services, energy, manufacturing, distribution and real estate sectors. ABO Capital is headquartered in Angola with offices in Dubai and the United States.
About Roberto Mandje
Roberto Mandje, an Olympian, running coach and global marathon advisor, will run all 7 marathons as the lead Africa 7 ambassador. Born in Barcelona,Spain, to an Equatorial Guinean mother, Roberto lived in Barcelona until the age of 5, when he and his mother moved to Equatorial Guinea and then to several other countries in Africa.
In 2004, he qualified for the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase, representing Equatorial Guinea at the Athens Olympic Games. From 2004 to 2016, he competed professionally in track, road and trail races in the United States, Africa and Europe.
Roberto is a Running and Sports Marketing Consultant, Coach, and Celebrity Trainer. Notably, he paced YouTuber Casey Neistat to a sub-3-hour marathon in December 2023 and guided Lil Nas X to complete his first half-marathon in 2024.
Connect with Roberto
About Zandre Campos
Zandre Campos is one of the great, innovative business leaders and global entrepreneurs emerging out of Africa. Zandre was named one of the Top 25 African business influencers and was a recipient of the Distinguished Business Excellence Award by African Leadership Magazine and the Africa Award by CEO Magazine. Zandre is frequently quoted as an expert on Africa in the media and has spoken at leading industry conferences around the world.
Zandre has run more than a dozen marathons across the world including the TCS New York City Marathon, EDP Lisbon Marathon, Milano City Marathon and more.
Connect with ZAndre
