CINCINNATI — There’s nothing like a bond between siblings. On Sunday, April 10, all across the country, people celebrated National Siblings Day, especially the case for one set of twins who are using their talents to impact the world.

What You Need To Know

  • April 10 was National Siblings Day, a day to celebrate the special bond between siblings

  • Kevlin and Alvin Mantey, 22, are identical twins who attend the University of Cincinnati

  • The twins practically do everything together, including sing, write, play instruments, dance and more

  • One thing they've decided to do differently is pursue different academic careers, yet they still support one another

Writing music is what identical twins Alvin and Kelvin Mantey enjoy doing in their free time. Together, they brainstorm about the lyrics and arrangements.

Alvin said it just flows so naturally. 

“There’s just things about me that he automatically knows,” said Kelvin. “People usually spend a lot of time together to get to know each other. But it kind of just happened right off the get-go for us.”

Kelvin and Alvin aren’t the only twins in their family. They also have two older brothers who are also identical twins, Alfred and Godfred. 

“It’s definitely something special. It’s like you’re born with your best friend or born with a partner that you can do life with,” said Alvin. 

The dynamic duo not only writes the music. Every Friday, they perform their Christian tunes at their church.

“Writing music with him feels very in-tune, very connected,” said Alvin. “Because we’re already connected physically with each other and we’re both Christians and we both know the Lord and serve the Lord together.”

The two may dress alike every day, write, sing and play music together, but one thing they decided to do differently was their academic career.

While Alvin is a first-year student in medical school, Kelvin is a biomedical engineer student — two different paths, yet they still make it work.

“Whether it’s him getting an MD, or him getting a Ph.D. or a Master’s, whatever that it is, we root for each other and we support each other and we agree with each other in pursuing that,” said Alvin. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a little more than 112,400 twins are born every year in the United States.

But even for those who are not a twin, the Manteys said it’s still important to cherish siblings, because they have each others’ back when no one else does. 

“Where friends can’t fill in, your sibling can,” Kelvin said. “And because of the way we are, having my brother, I always have someone with me. I’m never really truly alone.”