The Request - by Deo Mwano (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Deo Mwano's powerful testimony of resilience details his past as a former child-refugee of war searching for belonging while seeking acceptance in diverse American communities. Through the creative and healing power of dance, he navigates his past trauma and transforms pain into purpose, reflecting on fatherhood, forgiveness, and his mother's "divine resourcefulness."

Mwano begins his story with recollections of his hometown Mbanza-Ngungu and events in the Zairian capital of Kinshasa, where his father was stationed before the fall of the Mobutu regime as an officer aligned with the prominent general Dantien Mahele, a would-be peacemaker. Reflecting on the colonial legacy, the linguistic mélange, the abundant flavors, textures, and music of his childhood, Mwano takes readers on a journey through the conflicts that shaped the Democratic Republic of Congo, the political upheavals, and war that forcibly resettled his family thousands of miles from his birthplace.

In New Hampshire, new struggles emerge as his family works to build a life in America, never far from the memories of the violence they escaped. As Mwano shoulders responsibilities beyond his years, he is thrust into early adulthood. Seeking community through faith, refuge in dance, and healing in sharing his story, he searches for a way forward. Anchoring him on this difficult path is his father's lasting charge: "Take care of the people I love. Take care of your mother and your little brothers."

Review Quotes

"In The Request, Deo Mwano delivers more than a memoir, he delivers a deeply human testament to the power of resilience, faith, family, and transformation. With honesty, vulnerability, and remarkable emotional depth, Deo takes readers from the heart of the Congo through the devastation of war, displacement, and the search for identity in America, all while carrying the weight of responsibility far beyond his years.
"What makes this story so powerful is not just the pain Deo endured, but the purpose he forged from it. Through faith, storytelling, and the healing art of dance, he transforms trauma into hope and suffering into strength. His journey is both intensely personal and universally relatable. A story about belonging, legacy, sacrifice, and the enduring promise to protect the people we love.
"The Request is a moving reminder that even in the aftermath of conflict and loss, healing is possible, identity can be reclaimed, and purpose can rise from the deepest wounds. This book will inspire readers from all walks of life."

--Remi Adeleke, author of Chameleon and Transformed: A Navy SEAL's Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds

"At a time when refugees and immigrants are being scapegoated and persecuted, Deo's story reminds us of the trauma and desperation that fuels their journey, the strength and resilience they bring to our society, and the hope to be found in loved ones, in art, and the process of rebuilding a life. It is, in so many ways, a quintessentially American story, told at a time when we seemed to have lost our way."

--Paul leBlanc, Visiting Scholar and Special Advisor, Harvard University Graduate School of Education

"In my decades working alongside refugees across the world, Deo Mwano's story stands out for its power and meaning. It speaks to courage, resilience, identity, and the transformative power of the arts. The Request is a 21st-century Horatio Alger story for America's 250th, showing us what it means to go 'from refugee to American.' Read it. You will be inspired."

--Sasha Chanoff, Founder and CEO, RefugePoint; Co-author, From Crisis to Calling: Finding Your Moral Center in the Toughest Decisions

About the Author

Deo Mwano is a nationally recognized speaker, storyteller, and organizational development consultant who uses the creative arts to inspire connection, engagement, and social change. Through dance, music, short films, and spoken storytelling, he helps organizations, communities, and individuals explore purpose, motivation, and human potential. In 2016, he was named a Top 3 Storyteller in a national competition hosted by GCIR and The Moth, and in 2023, he received the University of New Hampshire Granite State Award for positive social impact. His story has reached millions worldwide, including a nationally acclaimed performance on Dancing with the Stars, where he honored his mother through an original dance piece. He currently lives in New Hampshire.