AWARD-WINNING singer Lira is finally returning after suffering a stroke in 2022.
The Feel Good hitmaker (44) will be holding her first-ever concert in May since she was diagnosed with aphasia, which affected her speech.
She couldn’t speak, read or sing.
This happened while she was in Frankfurt, Germany, for a performance in March 2022.
She'll be performing at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein on 25 May.
Lira opened about suffering the stroke and said it was a blessing for her.
"People were initially interested in my recovery journey and, as time went by, started asking when I would perform again. I've been practising to perform as part of my recovery and have come to accept that the old Lira is gone. I wondered who the new Lira would be and have been getting to know her and feel ready to share her with the public," she said.
Lira said the stroke was a blessing as it has given her a second chance at life.
"Many people survive from having a stroke, but the damage to their brain leaves them permanently scarred and unable to move their bodies. I feel extremely lucky that physically, I have not been affected, and the new me has accepted that my brain has been damaged. So, I speak slower and need to learn to stay calm as stress affects my ability to communicate. I’m still recovering and will get better with time, and I’m so grateful for that," she said.
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But learning vernacular hasn’t been easy for her.
"Learning to speak and sing in Sotho and Zulu has been extremely difficult, without any vernacular speech therapy. And I only spoke the languages from memory with random people such as cashiers and petrol attendants. They have really helped me. I am constantly setting little goals for myself to master the languages. I’m working on it," she said.
The singer said she's grateful for people's support.
"I'm so excited and looking forward to being on stage again to perform at Bassline Fest Africa Day Celebration on Saturday 25 May 2024. What makes this performance extra special is that not only are we, in South Africa, celebrating 30 years of democracy, but we are also celebrating the new Lira as well as the Bassline's 30th Anniversary.
“I have so much to be grateful for and look forward to seeing you at Constitution Hill Square on Africa Day,” she said.
Lira was also recently given an Award of Merit by the General Consulate of India, Manesh Kumar, on International Women’s Day on 8 March.
"The event was to commemorate women who have shown outstanding achievements in their specific fields. It was the first award I received since having a stroke. Then I gave a speech," she wrote on Instagram.
When she suffered the stroke, South Africans were concerned about her, praying for her wellbeing. She had been updating people about her progress on her social media platforms.
