06/04/2026
Please join our partners at the Loppet Foundation in honoring Vusumuzi Zulu at our Juneteenth Fun Run & 5K on June 20th, 2026!
Mr. Vusumuzi Zulu is a revered storyteller, cultural bearer, and community activist whose life’s work has been dedicated to the principle of Kujichagulia—the Swahili concept of self-determination. For over four decades, he has uplifted the power of African people to define themselves, their history, and their future through the transformative art of storytelling.
A 2023 recipient of the McKnight Foundation Culture Bearers Fellowship, Mr. Zulu embraces the responsibility of transmitting the values, traditions, and wisdom of African ancestors to future generations. Through his storytelling, he channels both the ethos and pathos of the Black experience, illuminating truth, resilience, and the enduring joy of Black identity.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Zulu’s early life was shaped by constant movement and economic hardship. As he often reflects, “we moved every time the rent was due—and we paid rent every two weeks.” These formative experiences deeply inform his storytelling, grounding his narratives in lived reality while connecting them to broader historical and cultural themes.
Together with Ancestor Mother Nothando Zulu, he co-founded the Black Storytellers Alliance in Minnesota. In 1991, inspired by his first experience at the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) Festival and Conference, he helped launch the now-renowned “Signifyin’ & Testifyin’” storytelling festival. For more than three decades, the festival has brought together storytellers from across the globe, captivating and educating tens of thousands through powerful oral traditions.
The Black Storytellers Alliance continues to be a vital partner in community-centered initiatives such as Stories of Connection, serving as a grounding force that keeps communities connected to the true value of storytelling, cultural preservation, and shared history.
Register for the Juneteenth Fun Run at loppet.org/events
