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- Singer and songwriter Lira is grateful to be alive, talking and singing after suffering a stroke in 2022.
- The stroke, which happened while she was in Germany for a performance, affected her ability to speak, read and write.
- Two years later, the award-winning singer is gearing up for her return to stage at the Bassline Fest, taking place in May.
Two years after the stroke she suffered in Germany, which affected her ability to speak, read, and write, multi-award-winning songstress Lira (real name Lerato Molapo) proved she was embodying the lyrics of her 2014 hit single, Something Inside So Strong, as she reflected on her recovery.
In April 2022, her management disclosed that she had suffered a stroke while in the country for a performance. At the time, they said her journey would require patience, adding she could not perform in the short term.
A few months later, in June, the singer and songwriter shared an update saying she could talk, read, and write again. Over a year later, in July 2023, she spoke publicly for the first time in an interview with friend and neighbour Relebogile Mabotja for the The Upside of Failure segment of her Radio 702 show.
Despite the progress she had made, Lira endured a bumpy road – six months after the stroke, she was diagnosed with aphasia, a reversible language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.
Having triumphed over the challenges to her health and celebrating how far she had come, the 45-year-old penned a heartfelt message on social media.
"Today marks 2 years since the stroke, and I'm so grateful to be alive and talking and singing. I've come such a long way. God is so good!!!" she wrote. "I've had an incredible journey and learnt a lot. I'm almost there."
"Thank you to everyone who has shown me support; thank you for your love and prayers."
The second anniversary of her stroke came weeks after she announced she would return to the stage with her first live performance with a band at the Bassline Fest on 25 May. Commemorating Africa Day, the show will be held at Constitution Hill.
"I am 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 I look forward to seeing you at Constitution Hill Square on Africa Day," Lira said.
In September last year, the songstress made a surprise return to stage at the Rand Merchant Bank Starlight Classics event in Johannesburg. She was joined on stage by Sunnyboy Dladla and Masabane Rangwanasha, both of whom she previously performed with at the same event in 2018 in Cape Town.
At the time, Lira acknowledged that "there's still a long way to go" before she could sing alone or at a full concert.
"This [is] a very positive step in my recovery. I've been singing to loosen up my tongue; it has helped me to speak better, and I do it as part of my recovery," she said.
