Musa Zulu - ThisAbility A Graduation From Acceptance To Embracing

2019-09-08

Musa E. Zulu, creative director of his company, Valhalla Arts is a published author, an award winning entrepreneur, international artist, celebrated motivational speaker and prominent disability activist in South Africa.

After achieving an Honours degree in Sociology at the University of Natal (1993), Zulu lectured in the Faculty of Humanities before moving to the corporate world as human resources manager.

He was fast climbing the career ladder when his life took a dramatic and unexpected turn. In 1995, when he was 23 years old, following injuries resulting from a car accident, Zulu became paralyzed and wheelchair bound. Consequently, he found himself faced with one of the hardest challenges that life can bring –
disability.

However, through applying his personal philosophy of embracing change, Zulu not only found a way to cope with his new life, but to inspire others as well. Over the past 24 years he has delivered motivational talks to various institutions throughout South Africa. These invitations have included being requested to deliver strategic solutions aimed at helping clients achieve optimal marketing and communications’ targets.

Through reflecting on his personal experiences and inner qualities, applying his management skills and unleashing his entrepreneurial attitude, Zulu has established himself as a change agent. Zulu focuses his ‘change

agent’ interventions primarily towards the development of self-motivation. His services have helped organisations transform themselves by focusing on such matters as staff motivation, coaching and mentorship, organisational growth based on effectiveness, efficiency and communications improvement, together with how to develop a framework for managing the people side of change.

In addition, Zulu is well renowned for conceptualizing and authoring his motivational modules. Some of his titles include:

Rainbow Colours on Black & White: Utilising Art to Achieve Team-Building
THISABILITY: A Graduation from Acceptance to Embracing
How Effective Managers & Executives L.E.A.D
6 Essentials for Mastering the Art of Self-Motivation

His past corporate clients’ portfolio includes Sanlam, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, KPMG, Pearson SA, LFP, ADAPT IT, IDC Arivia. Com, Multichoice and the SABC. He has also been invited to lead creative sessions for project kick-offs at various government and community organisation forums.

Past Achievements

In 2019 he was presented with the NHBRC Iqhawe Mentorship Award at the annual Black Business Quarterly (BBQ) Awards, in recognition of his exceptional ability and commitment to guiding and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.
In 2016 he received an Award at the 2nd Annual ‘We Can ARTS FESTIVAL’ held in KwaZulu-Natal
Also in 2016 he was invited to come and receive an award, presented by Mind Set 101, for ‘21 Years of Mental Strength and Tenacity’.
In 2013 the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education presented Valhalla Arts with an ‘Award in Inclusive Education’
In 2013 he was invited by the American Embassy in South Africa, Durban, to participate in the State Department sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
He is the recipient of both the eThekwini Municipality ‘Mayors’ Achiever Award’ (2013) and ‘The Phoenix Light Group Distinguished Service Award’ (2013)
In 2012 Valhalla Arts, in partnership with Killa Joe Records, he embarked on the ‘Ego Sum Quod Sum – I Am What I Am!’ Disability Arts Exhibition to showcase the role of music, crafts, literature and poetry in enabling disability identity, expression and empowerment.
In 2011, together with partners, he founded the ‘THISABILITY Newspaper’, a publication to highlight disability socioeconomic empowerment, entertainment and community related stories of the world of disability.
In 2009 he launched the ‘Santa Wheels’ Christmas project to bring cheer to children with disabilities in community centres and hospitals during the festive season.
In the year 2007 he won both the ‘Best Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ and the coveted ‘Platinum Award’ at the annual Black Business uarterly (BBQ) Awards.
He was ‘One of 10 South African Men we just Love’ Oprah Magazine 2006].
In 2006 he joined forces with a paraplegic friend to establish INDIMEZULU Trust which awards bursaries to students with disabilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
He won ‘Man of the Moment’ [True Love Magazine 2002] Zulu is the author of four books: “The Language of Me”; “Wheels on the Soul of my Shoes”; “Tributes: The Story” and “Mastering the Art of Selfmotivation: Tapping the Inner You!”.

He is also an established artist and has been widely commissioned by individuals, organisations and corporates to create artworks which depict business profiles.

For more information contact:
C: 083 3488 729
W: www.valhallaarts.co.za