South African music producer and DJ Prince Kaybee has revealed the deeply personal motivation behind his upcoming cycling journey from Johannesburg to Durban, saying the challenge is about far more than physical endurance.
Speaking during an interview with The Culture Report ZA, the award-winning artist shared that the loss of his mother to an obesity-related illness fundamentally changed the way he views health and fitness. The experience sparked a personal transformation that eventually led him to embrace cycling and commit himself to raising awareness about obesity and healthier living.
According to Prince Kaybee, his mother’s passing left him with lingering questions about whether more could have been done to help her earlier. He explained that after learning more about obesity and its impact on public health, he became increasingly focused on weight management, exercise and overall wellness.
The producer said his growing interest in fitness developed into what he describes as an obsession with improving his health and understanding the dangers associated with obesity. That journey has now culminated in one of his most ambitious personal challenges yet, cycling from Johannesburg to Durban.
Prince Kaybee also pointed to statistics he encountered regarding obesity-related deaths, saying he was shocked by the scale of the problem and believes greater awareness is needed. Through the ride, he hopes to encourage conversations around preventative health, physical activity and lifestyle choices.
The challenge comes after months of preparation, which the musician described as physically and mentally demanding. During the interview, he revealed that his training routine has required significant sacrifices, including waking up at 3am to complete cycling sessions of up to 200 kilometres.
He also disclosed that he has changed his eating habits as part of his preparation, saying he now eats only once a day while training for the endurance ride.
The journey from Johannesburg to Durban is expected to cover approximately 600 kilometres, depending on the final route. While the exact logistics of the ride have not yet been publicly detailed, the distance represents one of the most demanding endurance challenges undertaken by the artist.
Excitement around the event has been building on social media. In a post shared roughly 20 hours ago, Prince Kaybee signalled that the countdown is entering its final stages, captioning the post: “5 days to go” and including the hashtags #JoziToDurban and #HiPace.
The challenge marks another evolution in the career of the producer, who first rose to prominence after winning 1’s and 2’s in 2015 before becoming one of South Africa’s most successful dance music artists. While he remains known for chart-topping hits such as Fetch Your Life, Banomoya and Gugulethu, his recent focus has increasingly shifted towards fitness, wellness and personal development.
For Prince Kaybee, the Johannesburg-to-Durban ride is more than a test of endurance. It is a tribute to his mother’s memory, a reflection of his own health journey, and an attempt to inspire South Africans to take their wellbeing seriously before it is too late.
As the countdown continues, supporters will be watching closely to see the musician swap the stage for the saddle in a ride driven by purpose, loss and the desire to create awareness around one of the country’s growing health challenges.