Musa Motha: Cancer Survivor & Amputee Who Stole the Show on Britain’s Got Talent
Meet Musa, an award-winning international dancer, amputee, cancer survivor, and all-round powerhouse of talent, resilience, and style. At 30 years old, Musa has taken the world by storm: from Johannesburg to the grand finals of Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League, his journey is a masterclass in what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
In this blog Musa talks about life, limb loss and purpose. It's a story that is sure to inspire whoever reads it!
Losing My Leg
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1995. I moved to the UK in 2022, but still regularly go back home to visit my loved ones. In 2005, when I was 10, I injured my left knee during a football tournament. The injury caused an unusually intense pain which left the doctors baffled. After lots of scans and tests the medical team discovered I actually had osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. The first round of chemotherapy didn't work, and the tumour continued to grow. It was then the doctors advised I have my left leg amputated but this wasn't the avenue me and my family were ready to take at the time. As pain got worse, and the tumour became more aggressive, in 2006 I made the decision to have my leg amputated, and it saved my life.
Prior to my cancer diagnosis my dream was to become a professional footballer, after the amputation the dream of being a pro took a back seat. However, it didn't stop me from playing, with the support of mum and a pair of crutches, I learned to play again. Whilst I loved playing still, I decided this was no longer the career I was going to strive for.
Despite this pivot, I don't look at my limb loss as a setback, I actually believe it was a blessing. It was the reason I matured. It gave me a whole new purpose, a new direction, and a better perspective on life.
Musa wearing Blue Glitter Cool Crutches
Dance Found Me
I like to say dance found me. It wasn’t something I planned or was looking for. It came to me like a calling. When I was 12, I used to watch kids in the neighbourhood street dancing and a couple of years later in 2009, I found myself in the local dance crew, performing in street battles and dance competitions.
The biggest challenge I faced at the beginning was balance. I had to learn to work with gravity - which is easier said than done. Holding your entire bodyweight up with your arms, on crutches, is super tough. I tore ligaments in my shoulders and ankles throughout the early years of learning to dance, but I always had huge support from those around me which made me keep pushing through.
That wasn’t the end of the challenges, though. I used to be terrified dancing on slippery floors. I always worried my crutches would slide and I’d fall. That fear used to hold me back. But over time, as I found stronger, better-made crutches and ferrules, I gained more confidence and that changed everything.
After years of injuries and pain, I decided it was time to see a physical therapist. That was a gamechanger. Learning how to properly stretch and strengthen my body helped me avoid further injury and gave me more control on stage.
My dance journey took me to performing in music videos like Drake’s ‘One Dance’ which I really enjoyed, but I’ve always wanted to explore different styles of dance and express my feelings more clearly. Street dance is powerful, but it’s not always clear in its storytelling. This is the reason I auditioned and joined Vuyani Dance Theatre in Johannesburg. Here I trained professionally in contemporary, afro-fusion, tap, and ballet. It was hard work, but it gave me the skills and confidence to take my performances global, it's when I began truly expressing myself through movement.
“Believe in yourself and always allow yourself to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness.”
Musa wearing Black Glitter Cool Crutches
Learning What My Crutches Meant To Me
Whilst training at Vuyani Dance Theatre I had the chance to work with renowned choreographer Gregory Maqoma. He completely changed how I viewed my crutches and myself.
He helped me think dive into what my crutches mean to me on and off stage. He helped me understand that my crutches aren't just a tool to help me move, when I dance, they are an extension of me. He challenged me to see them as my paintbrush, my other leg, or anything I wanted it to be. After this time with Gregory, I really feel like my stories started to come alive on stage and I was able to fully express myself and who I am.
From South Africa to Global Takeover
In 2019, I started performing overseas, and I’ve never looked back. Being overseas lead me to being in London in 2023, when a friend who believed in me convinced me to audition for Britain’s Got Talent - the show that changed my life.
I was 27, and felt like I'd been preparing for this moment my whole life. I was the last audition of the series, and although all the judges had used their golden buzzer allocations, the audience's response to my performance resulted in the first and only, golden buzzer rule break of Britain's Got Talent history. All four judges pressed the golden buzzer for me and I was sent straight to the Semi-Finals. It was such an incredible moment for me. The feeling was really intense : you can see it here.
I was so pleased to finish 5th in the show, and even happier with the opportunities that have followed.
In 2023, I was awarded the Emerging Artist Award at the National Dance Awards, and I also landed on the cover of Vogue UK in their May 2023 Disability Portfolio. Since then, I’ve been working with many of my heroes and performing at events all over the world.
Another highlight was performing at the Bridging Bionics Foundation Gala in the U.S. I was invited after Amanda Boxtel, the founder and executive director, saw me on America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League.
Cool Crutches
Before Cool Crutches, I relied on hospital-issued crutches. To be honest, they were terrible. They were flimsy, noisy, and not made for long-term use. I moved on to pharmacy ones, which is an option in South Africa, in hope they would be more appropriate, but they still weren’t strong enough, nor were they stylish. It was super important to me that I found crutches that felt like an extension of me so they could become part of my storytelling on stage.
A friend from South Africa introduced me to Amelia at Cool Crutches, and I instantly learnt she's an absolute angel. Then when I moved to the UK in 2022, I had to get myself a pair of Gold Glitter and Black Glitter crutches.
These crutches are everything I was looking for. They are built for everyday, long term use and the stage. They are more than a tool for moving, they’re part of my performance, my confidence, and my identity.
Musa’s Tips
When I'm having a tough day, I always look back and remind myself that I SURVIVED! This helps realign me with what's important and how lucky I am to be living the life I'm living. Even on your worst day it's worth remembering you've survived all your hardest days so far. Believe in yourself, instead of believing in your thoughts. You are far more capable than you realise.
What I also find helps me is feeling confident in my skin. I choose to dress well, smell good and rock a pair of stylish crutches. These small habits boost my confidence and how I feel about myself. Disability, amputation and chronic illness don't have to mean you can't give yourself this gift.
Musa wearing Black Glitter Cool Crutches
What’s Next
Right now, I’m working on something that’s both exciting and terrifying. My first full-length theatre show. It’s a huge step creatively and personally, but I know it’s time.
This show will tell my story, explore new themes, and hopefully, inspire others the same way I was inspired when I first stepped into a dance studio.
⭐ A massive thank you to Musa for sharing his journey with us and undoubtedly inspiring us all. To keep up with his work, follow him on Instagram, and stay tuned for the launch of his upcoming show. ⭐
If you found Musa's story a good read, we think you will also love these inspiring blogs too:
