Mussa's face lights up with a broad smile when he speaks of his pride at opening a new premises for his barbershop within the Fields Shopping Centre in Davoren Park.
After arriving from Congo in 2019, Mussa embarked on a barber apprenticeship and earned his qualification in 2022. He launched a mobile barber service, travelling to clients' homes-but rising petrol prices made that model difficult to sustain.
Mussa turned to a hybrid model: a home-based shop combined with mobile services. While this offered some perks, coordinating bookings between two locations proved challenging. This experience convinced him that a permanent storefront was essential for simplifying operations and supporting future growth.
"I feel really proud to now have my own location," reflects Mussa, "I feel more relaxed and less time pressure. Also, I am proud that people can look and see that I did it, and it's a nice place now for people to come to."
Throughout his time in business, Mussa worked closely with the City of Playford's Disability and Inclusion team, their support helping him to navigate complex setup processes.
"I want to inspire people living with a disability, give them the confidence that they can do something too," said Mussa.
Always keen to foster new connections within the community, Mussa recently had a stall at Playford's Positive Future's Expo where he won the Best Exhibitor Award and was also invited by the Stretton team to share his story as a guest speaker at the recent Self-Employment Showcase held at the Stretton Centre.
Mayor Glenn Docherty said Mussa's story of finding opportunity and defining his own destiny is an inspiration to all looking to do business in Playford.
"By opening a permanent barbershop in Fields Shopping Centre, Mussa is not only building his own dream - he's strengthening our local economy and inspiring others to pursue theirs," said the Mayor.
Mussa's past experiences are what drives him to achieve success, so that he can then pay it forward to the community in any way he can.
"I want to be successful so then I can help build people up in the community," said Mussa.
