Teacher puts the wheels on the soul of his shoes
MUSA Zulu was only 23 years old when a car accident left him paralysed and in a wheelchair. But that did not stop him from achieving his goals and making a difference in many lives.
Zulu is the author of three books: The Language of Me, Wheels on the Soul of my Shoes, and Tributes: The Story. He is a motivational speaker, an artist whose work has been sold here and abroad, an entrepreneur and an activist for the economic empowerment of disabled people in SA. He hosts the annual Tributes Excellence Awards, which celebrate disabled women achievers. They are presented by Valhalla Arts, a private company Zulu founded and named after the mythical place of warriors’ resurrection in Scandanavian mythology.
What I have learnt is that it is easy to be forgotten when you are disabled. But people don’t forget about you when you are productive
women invisible. We launched the awards as a vehicle to identify, assemble and exhibit the work of these bright jewels to the world.”
Zulu has won many accolades. True Love magazine named him the Man of the Moment and Oprah magazine one of “10 South African Men We Just Love”. In 2013 he was awarded the eThekwini mayor’s Achiever Award and the Phoenix Light Group Distinguished Service Award for his role in pioneering models of integration and economic development for disabled people.
He remembers the night he was involved in the accident that changed his life. After finishing his honours degree in sociology in 1993, he had started his career as a lecturer at the then University of Natal. “Two years later the accident happened and my life took a dramatic and unexpected turn. It was not easy to accept this initially. But family members and friends helped throughout my ordeal,” he says. “I began to accept and embrace my situation. This helped me not only to cope, but also to inspire others.
“The past 20 years have been very exciting and challenging at the same time. I have had to overcome challenges every day. This is not only rewarding but also leads to extraordinary self-actualisation.
“What I have also learnt is that it is easy to be forgotten when you are disabled. But people don’t forget about you when you are productive.”
ZULU says disabled people are not a “special case”. He is an activist at the forefront of the Disabled Economic Empowerment Programme (Deep), ensuring that disabled people are appointed to positions of authority and benefit from empowerment programmes.
The organisation attempts to convince government departments, parastatals and private companies to hire and do business with people with disabilities, in line with the country’s legislation.
“At Deep we also raise funds for disabled students from poor families so that they can further their studies. So far more than 43 disabled students have benefited and we have 11 graduates who passed their degrees and diplomas with flying colours,” he says.
Zulu was born to a well-to-do Durban family. His father was an academic and his mother a matron in one of the biggest hospitals in the city. That ensured that he had medical aid and other middle-class necessities.