South African Star Lira: Living a full life after a stroke
After overcoming a stroke and undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation journey that involved relearning how to speak, Lira made a triumphant return to the spotlight at the Bassline Festival this past weekend.
Her passionate performance on Saturday evening at Constitutional Hill on Africa Day, celebrated on May 25, marked her first appearance since suffering a stroke while in Germany in 2022. The crowd’s enthusiastic response was a testament to their longing for her presence on stage as she delivered powerful renditions of her popular songs.
Dressed in a stunning yellow two-piece ensemble, Lira made her grand entrance onto the stage promptly at 8 pm. Her performance comprised a selection of her timeless classical hits and beloved crowd-pleasers, affirming to her fans that she still possessed her remarkable talent. The moment she stepped into the spotlight, the audience erupted into a frenzy, fervently chanting her name: “Lira! Lira! Lira!” Throughout her set, she effortlessly had the entire crowd singing along to her well-known tunes.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lira, whose given name is Lerato Molapo, received cheers and applause and was moved to tears at the conclusion of each performance, deeply touched by the fervent reception from her adoring fans.
“I love you guys so much, and you guys make me so happy,” she said after performing her hit songs Feel Good and Ixesha. “Being able to stand here and sing with you brings me so much joy; thank you guys so much.”
Lira describes Africa Day performance as ‘magical’
Lira shared her thoughts on the recent event on her official Instagram account on Monday, expressing her feelings with the caption: “It was truly a magical experience.”
“Last Night was MAGICAL! It turned out better than I could have thought. I worked consistently, doing a little bit every day,” added the award-winning singer.
“And it all came together on that stage. I just want to thank God for showing me SO much love and for guiding me and being present throughout my journey. I’m convinced that God works when you do!! He is there to amplify all the work that you are doing.
“I want to thank my incredible band, my agent and band manager. I want to especially thank all the fans who showed up last night. Your energy made the magic happen – WOW. And I want to thank my family and friends, and Basslinelve, thank you for giving me something to work towards. I’m back like I never left – it can only get better from here!
I need to rest and take it all in. I’m so grateful that I did that, and I’m so proud. Feel Good, Feel Good.”