SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine—Jean Medard Zulu is November’s student-athlete spotlight. Zulu, standing 6’6’’ tall, is a member of the Southern Maine Community College men’s basketball team hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Born in Brussels, Belgium, and living in France for much of his childhood, Zulu is fluent in six languages. He can speak English, French, Spanish, Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili—the latter three spoken in DR Congo and other regions of Africa. Zulu has six siblings, two brothers and four sisters, one crowned Miss Congo in 1997.
Zulu came to the United States in October of 2014, living in Texas before moving to Maine in 2015. At SMCC, he studies political science with career aspirations of working for an international organization to bring more voice to the Congolese people and help solve the governmental issues his country faces. After completing his Associate’s degree at SMCC, Zulu plans to transfer to a four-year institution to earn his Bachelor’s degree in political science. He hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, who serves as an ambassador and once a deputy in DR Congo.
In-between studying and basketball practice, Zulu works as a security officer at SMCC and enjoys cooking, something his mother taught him before coming to the United States. Zulu explains, “When I cook the food from my country, I feel like I’m at home.” However, perhaps the biggest culture change Zulu says will be the Maine winters and the New England accent.
Zulu comments, “I love SMCC for its community of friendly and welcoming people and for the many opportunities available to me.”
The SeaWolves’ center recorded his first collegiate points on two made free throws in his team’s victory over Holyoke Community College on Sunday, Oct. 30. Zulu says his favorite basketball player is Michael Jordan, but loves watching LeBron James, “he’s a beast.”
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