Dr. King SMADE, Founder of SMADE Entertainment Group and Co-Founder of Afro Nation, has announced he will run the 2026 London Marathon to raise £100,000 for The Africa Centre, one of the UK's most important institutions for African arts, culture and dialogue. The campaign comes as the Centre faces significant financial pressures.

After six decades as a home away from home for the African diaspora in Britain, The Africa Centre needs our help. The institution that contributed to the journeys of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Wole Soyinka, Ben Okri, and Jazzie B and Soul II Soul could be lost without urgent support.

"The Africa Centre belongs to all of us. It was gifted to the people of Africa over 60 years ago," said Olu Alake, CEO of The Africa Centre. "Now we need our community to help us ensure that it will be around for at least another 60 years."

Titled 'Run for The Africa Centre', the campaign calls on the African and Caribbean diaspora and allies to protect a vital cultural home. At a time when community connection and wellbeing are under increasing pressure, and shared cultural spaces are steadily disappearing, the campaign offers a rallying point that combines culture, fitness, and collective action.

For Dr. SMADE, this is personal. His journey began in London with grassroots gatherings that brought the diaspora together through music, the same spirit The Africa Centre has championed since it opened in 1964. With over 1 million social media followers and two decades shaping African and Black British culture, Dr. SMADE brings unique reach to the campaign.

"I started with house parties in London, trying to give our community a space to come together. The Africa Centre has been doing that since before I was born," said SMADE. "We cannot let the institutions that built our culture collapse. Protecting this place is not optional. It is a responsibility."

The campaign launches in February 2026 and culminates in Dr. SMADE running 26.2 miles at the London Marathon on 26 April 2026. In the months leading up to race day, Dr. SMADE will document his training journey across his platforms. Supporters worldwide can join him through "Run With SMADE," a virtual run club that turns a solo race into a collective movement.

Key campaign activations include community runs across London, a symbolic African and Caribbean Embassy Unity Run, a competition to design Dr. SMADE's marathon vest, and a curated Afrobeats and Amapiano training playlist.

The £100,000 target will be raised through community fundraising, cultural activations, and corporate sponsorship. Partners and brands are invited to support a campaign rooted in wellness, cultural authenticity, and lasting impact. Organisers expect the initiative to engage over 500 in-person participants and generate over 1 million digital impressions.

"As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, this campaign shows how the African diaspora comes together to honour heritage and invest in the future," said Alake. "This is the catalyst that will ensure we are here for the next 60 years."