DJ SBU: MZANZI’S MISTER TERRIFIC

DJ Sbu has come a long way since selling cellphones on campus, and it hasn’t always been an easy journey. He shares the lessons he’s learnt along the way to becoming a Guinness World Record holder, CEO, chart topping DJ and father.

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At the age of 42, Sbusiso Leope, aka DJ Sbu, has an impressive array of accolades to his name, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down. He’s currently working on new business ventures, another shot at setting a world record, an upcoming book, new music – and the recently launched Home Grown and Massive Metro radio stations.

He is lively yet soft-spoken and polite. When we speak with him, he is gearing up for the launch of his highly anticipated new venture, Waya Waya, a digital marketplace platform. ‘It’s the digital era right now, and all you can do is teach people how to make money online,’ he says. His goal? To create a thousand entrepreneurs in 12 months. ‘It is similar to what I’ve done with MoFaya, except evolving into an online digital project that enables users to be self-employed,’ he adds.

MoFaya is a local non-alcoholic beverage brand, which he co-founded in 2015. He is all fired up when he speaks about Waya Waya – so much so that a relocation to the Mother City is in the pipeline. ‘I will be working with the youth and communities that side,’ he says. ‘I think this is going to be the biggest project I’ve worked on since MoFaya.’ He isn’t all talk, either. Over the years, we’ve seen him roll up his sleeves and get things done. After tirelessly promoting MoFaya in the streets, the company now sells millions of cans around the country each month. Not bad for someone who sold used cellphones in tertiary to make a bit of pocket money. ‘Hard work will always beat talent – talent doesn’t work enough,’ he says, stressing the importance of a strong work ethic.



A LOT MORE TO OFFER
A social entrepreneur at heart, he makes sure that everything he puts his name to empowers others. ‘We have a responsibility towards the youth and people who see us as role models,’ he says. ‘I also give back because it’s important to look out for the community and use your blessing to be a blessing to others.’

He is hugely grateful to all the people who have supported him throughout his career. ‘These are the same people who used to buy my music, watch my shows and listened to me on the radio over the years,’ he says. His career has not been without its tribulations, however. In a 2015 Instagram post he wrote, ‘I’m not poor. But I’m broke. More broke than I have been in a long time. I’m deep in debt.

Every last cent. Drop of blood, sweat, tears. Emotions. Energy. Everything has been invested in #MyStartUp. Been fired. Laughed at. Called crazy & more. Are you willing to risk it all for your dream?’ Clearly, he isn’t afraid to pick at his business lessons like a scab – from being let go from Metro FM to challenges his own business faced.

‘Even when times were dark and other people were writing me off, I know there were a lot of South Africans rooting for me, who still believed in me, encouraged me, defended me in public, and still believed that I have a lot to offer,’ he says. ‘I will always strive to be that figure who empowers our young people and inspires them.’

INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS
Add working tirelessly to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, setting world records, and fatherhood, and DJ Sbu is the real-life Mister Terrific. He has relentlessly shared his knowledge over the years. A published author, his experience as an entrepreneur is well documented in his books Leadership 2020 – The Beginning, Billionaire$ Under Construction, and The Art Of Hustling. He reveals that more advice is ready to be put on paper as his next book will be on the shelves later in the year. So how does he do it, we ask?

Related article: How to start your online business



‘I never stop, I keep it moving,’ he laughs. ‘I have structured my companies through partnerships. That way, the businesses can run in my absence.’ His journey has taken him from Tembisa to the world.

He is planning to summit the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest in the Himalayas, in anticipation of setting three more Guinness World Records – for the Highest Altitude DJing Set, the Highest Altitude Music Concert and the Highest Altitude Music Video. The plan is to raise money for his now 20-year-old foundation, SLEF (The Sbusiso Leope Education Foundation). This hot on the heels of setting a new Guinness World Record in December 2020 for the Longest Marathon for a Radio Music Show. The funds from the 216-hour stream went to Tembisa-based Siyazigabisa Home of Hope, a shelter for vulnerable and abused children.

He is working on two new albums, also set for release this year. As successful as his music career has been, he feels there’s still more to contribute to the industry.

“Hard work will always beat talent – talent doesn’t work enough.”

FATHERHOOD’S LESSONS
When he tells us about his fatherhood journey, it’s clear that he’s no stranger to introspection. ‘My journey as a father has been an experience of learning,’ he smiles. ‘I guess that experience taught me how to be selfless, responsible and to think differently about the future.’ He adds that now, he considers how his decisions affect his daughter, Waratwa (8) before making his move. ‘I’m not a perfect human being but she makes me want to become perfect,’ he adds.

Related article: The importance of male role models in children’s lives

HUMILITY MOVES MOUNTAINS
Revealing a steely sense of purpose, his hope for Wawa, as she’s fondly known, is that she learns from him, as he did from his parents, that humility stands out and moves mountains. His message to other dads this Father’s Day? ‘Just keep it up,’ he says. ‘I can never tell another parent how to parent their child, I can only celebrate them for being present.’ That said, we celebrate him too.

Related article: How to be a hands-on dad

A FEW OF HIS FAVOURITE THINGS:

• Mpumalanga, specifically Adams Calendar in Waterval Boven, is his favourite holiday destination.
• In his downtime, he loves spending time with his daughter.
• He enjoys traditional African dishes.
• On his all-time favourite artists list are Sello Galane and Micheal Jackson.