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In this powerful memoir of resilience, forgiveness, and a mother’s “divine resourcefulness,” a Congolese child-refugee of war searches for belonging while seeking acceptance in diverse American communities. Through the creative and healing power of dance, he is able to navigate his past trauma and transform pain into purpose.
Firmly rooted in the rich heritage of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Deo Mwano begins his story with recollections of his hometown Mbanza Ngungu. This city was far from the Zairian capital of Kinshasa, where his father served as an officer aligned with the prominent Zairean General Dantien Mahele, a would-be peacemaker, before the fall of the Mobutu regime. Reflecting on the colonial legacy, the linguistic mélange, the abundant flavors, textures, and music of Zaire, Mwano takes readers on a journey through the conflicts that shaped his childhood, 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 Deo 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.”
"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
Part 1: A Child of the Congo
Chapter 1: The Request
Chapter 2: Swallowed by a Storm
Chapter 3: A Flood of War
Chapter 4: The Voracious River
Chapter 5: A Turbulent Escape
Chapter 6: A Hidden Refuge
Chapter 7: Paradise Lake
Part II: Navigating a Strange New Place
Chapter 8: Independence
Chapter 9: Dishonesty
Chapter 10: Disequilibrium
Chapter 11: Trauma Makes a Phone Call
Chapter 12: Finding Sanctuary
Chapter 13: Why Can’t She Hear Me?
Chapter 14: Fitting in to Be Left Alone
Chapter 15: I Forgive You
Chapter 16: Dance – One Piece of a Full Life
Chapter 17: Life Comes Full Circle
Chapter 18: Identity
Epilogue: I Can Walk Beside You
Appendix: Photos and Documents
Literature
Acknowledgments
About the Author