Deo joins Well Run Brum for the Pep Talk, featuring live music from Europe’s finest female a cappella quintet Black Voices.
A 60-minute conversation charting Deo Kato’s epic 16-month challenge running from Cape Town to London to tell the historic story of Human Migration from Africa to the Rest of the World. The Ugandan-born campaigner, activist and trail runner’s story will be accompanied with musical moments from Birmingham-based ensemble Black Voices, blending melodies of Europe and the rhythms of Africa.
Deo started his journey from Cape Town on 24th July 2023 at the Long March to Freedom exhibition paying homage to those who fought for South Africa’s freedom from the early 1700s to Freedom Day in April 1994. His journey is inspired by the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 when African Americans in Alabama staged a civil rights protest that took them 381 days to end segregation on the buses – A pivotal turning point in the history of the civil rights movement.
As if the physical challenge was not great enough, Deo has overcome some unimaginable obstacles. He was arrested on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan, with his driver and spent three weeks in prison before being released.
In Tanzania, where he was already battling torrential rain and muddy roads, the food he bought off the street made him sick and unable to run.
However, there have also been memorable acts of kindness. Once when running through the desert in northern South Africa and with nowhere to stay, a local farmer took in Deo and his driver, cooking a meal for them and providing a safe place to sleep.
On completion of his route, Deo had travelled across 21 countries and 2 continents, covered 13,297 kilometres (7,530 miles) with 100,806 metres of elevation, run through deserts and grasslands and covered over 10 times the height of Everest. He is the first person in history to run from Cape Town to London and in doing so, he wants to show the next generation that nothing is impossible and to highlight where humanity first walked on earth.
Black Voices are the Birmingham-based vocal group who have crafted several genres into an inspiring a cappella performance beloved around the world for over 30 years. From their Handsworth home, Grosvenor Road Studios, they champion black music through performance and programmes.
Don’t miss this intimate gathering at Birmingham’s historic recording studio, Grosvenor Road Studio.
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Well Run Brum presents Pep Talk with Deo Kato featuring Black Voices
Deo joins Well Run Brum for the Pep Talk, featuring live music from Europe’s finest female a cappella…