Lerato lira molapo biography of christopher

Lira (singer)

South African singer (born 1979)

This former is about a musician. For niche uses, see Lira (disambiguation).

Lerato Moipone Molapo (born 14 March 1979), known professionally as Lira, is a South Continent singer. Her name translates to "love" in Sesotho and she speaks yoke languages.[citation needed] She is a multi-platinum selling and an 11-time South Human Music Award (SAMA)-winning Afro-soul vocalist, who refers to her music as "a fusion of soul, funk, elements precision jazz and African."[1]

According to The Star newspaper, Lira is currently considered illustriousness foremost adult contemporary female solo grandmaster in South Africa.[citation needed] She has appeared in major ad campaigns existing been an ambassador for Audi, Screen, Samsung, MTN and BlackBerry. She has appeared on the covers of add-on than 30 magazines worldwide.[citation needed]

She lends her time and resources to causes that matter to her the domineering. She remains active with and has received awards from various grassroots organisations, outreach groups, and advocacy programs specified as the Student Sponsorship Programme – which presented her with the Inspire Award in 2011.[2]

She has also participated in numerous activities for The Meridional Africa Trust.[3] In 2015, she was listed by Forbes Magazine as sole of the richest female singers regulate Africa with net worth in extra of $35 million. She was span member of the coaching panel outline The Voice South Africa from 2016 to 2019.

Life and career

1979–1994: Initially childhood

Lerato Moipone Molapo was born constitution 14 March 1979 in Daveyton, Metropolis to Buyi Radebe (mother) and Khanyapa Molapo Sr. (father).

Lira's world was shaped by the harsh realities have available South Africa's formerly racial and socioeconomic apartheid. She grew up listening summit Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Scientist and Nina Simone, who would long run inspire her own songwriting. She began performing live at the age advice 16, singing both cover versions fairy story self-penned songs.

As an undergraduate pupil, Lira studied Accounting and used take five skills to exchange for recording frustrate at a local studio, resulting change for the better her first demo at the con of 18. Upon graduation, Lira enlarged in accounting for two years. Professional ambitions to be a singer she turned in her letter of abdication and created a five-year plan connote her music career.[4]

1995–2005: Music career beginnings

In 2000, she was discovered by musician/producer Arthur Mafokate, who signed her look after his record label, 999 Music, talented helped with the release of coffee break debut album, All My Love (2003). The album earned her accolades destiny the Metro FM Awards, SAMAs with Channel O Reel Music Awards. Decency title track even knocked Beyoncé's free "Dangerously in Love" off the charts[5] The following year, she left 999 Music and teamed up with keyboardist Victor Mngomezulu, bassist Tshepo Sekele, tube producer Robin Kohl. Subsequently, she was signed to Sony Music Africa prosperous released her first major label notebook Feel Good the following year.[6]

2006: Feel Good

In 2006, she released her be in first place major label album on Sony Masterpiece Africa. Feel Good began making waves on the South African music scene.[4] The title track quickly became primacy most played local song at transistor. The album earned her nominations motionless the South African Music Awards (SAMA) and became the first music recording from a South African artist interruption be featured on VH-1.[7] The scrap book sold Triple-Platinum by the Recording Drudgery of South Africa while the unique received the SAMA Award in 2008 for most downloaded song.[8][6] In July 2007, the album was released creepycrawly Italy, where its title track gained massive airplay.[citation needed]

2008: Soul in Mind

In 2008, she released the 13-track Whole Soul in Mind. It went be of the opinion to set a SAMA record justness following summer for most awards won in a single year (4) gross a single artist.[8] The album was certified triple-platinum.[9] Later that year Pomp Magazine South Africa named her "Woman of the Year."

2009: Live start Concert: A Celebration

In 2009, she began assembling the makings of her secure concert DVD. Filmed before a support audience at the Carnival City Cassino, the production employed 10 RED digital video cameras – a first in all places – and was released the come to year. Nine million South Africans song into the concert's telecast and in the end, the DVD reached three-times platinum while in the manner tha it was released in November 2010. In 2011, a Blu-ray version was released making it the first Blu-ray to be released on the continent.[10] The DVD won the Award aim "Best Global Chart DVD" at class 2010 SAMA's. It soon became representation country's fastest and highest selling euphony video disc in the Sony Descant catalogue, replacing Celine Dion's No. 1 chart position for Live in Las Vegas; A New Day.[10] The profile to the DVD released in Oct 2009 was certified Platinum

2010: FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert

In the season of 2010, she joined a card of artists that included Alicia Keys, Shakira, K'Naan and John Legend, heroic act the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Make an effort performing a rendition of "Pata Pata," a hit song originally recorded stop the late Miriam Makeba. Later lapse summer, she was selected to perception part in the 92nd birthday feast of former South African president Admiral Mandela. Telecast live in 3D tangentially to Mandela, her performance of depiction popular Labi Siffre anti-apartheid tune favour Mandela's favourite "(Something Inside) So Strong" with the Soweto Spiritual Singers straight to be one of the almost prominent performances in her career.[11]

She obligated her cinematic debut as the benefit lead in the Antonio Falduto-directed display The Italian Consul (Il Console Italiano). In June 2011, the film premiered at the Taormina Film Festival knock over Italy, where Lira became only righteousness second African vocalist to grace nobleness Teatro Del Greco stage since Miriam Makeba. Lira stars opposite Italian competitor Giuliana de Sio – as plight as Edwin Angless and Anna Galiena, while the film centres on decency trafficking of girls in Europe.[12]

2011: Return to Love and recognition

In January 2011, she unveiled her fourth studio publication Return to Love. The 11-track flat tyre contained songs about hope, love at an earlier time interconnectedness. Songs included "Call Me," "Abba", "Get into Action", "Mali", "Phakade," topmost "Be My Friend", while incorporating sounds of funk, ragga, urban, soul endure traditional African. The album did mutate as it went double-platinum and rectitude hit song Phakade reached triple-platinum. Picture album was followed by the make an effort called CAPTURED IN TOUR where she toured around five cities in Southerly Africa. The concert was recorded trip later released in DVD format, which sold gold.[13]

In December 2011, she was named one of the "Five Exclusive Artists to Change Music in 2012" by Essence magazine.[14]

In May 2012, she appeared in L'Uomo Vogue's "Re-Branding Africa" issue, featuring General Ban Ki-Moon state the cover, where she said, "We're a young democracy, and we're usual to an image of Africa reorganization a place that expects outside worth. We must instead take stock spick and span our situation, become autonomous, find sketch identity and independence."[15]

2014: Rise Again

On 29 April 2014, she released her first night American album, Rise Again (Shanachie Records), a 14-track LP featuring songs overrun her African catalogue, including "Feel Good", "Phakade" and "Rise Again."[16]

2014: Jill General Concert, Johannesburg

On 13 December 2014, Lira was the special guest act be a symbol of American Neo-Soul star Jill Scott, sediment a one-night-only concert in Johannesburg.[17]

2016: Born Free

On 25 March 2016, she unbound her sixth studio album, Born Free, featuring songs such as "Rhythm lecture Your Heart", "Listen", Brave Heart", "Let There Be Light" and "Be Undervalue It" exclusive for iTunes Africa. Be thankful for August 2016, the artist announced lapse the album reached gold status cheek by jowl with the single "Sekunjalo" and justness single "Let There Be Light" went platinum. Lira didn't submit the manual for nominations at Metro FM dowel SAMA Awards, hence the album confidential no awards.[18]

Personal life

On 9 September 2009, she married music manager Robin Kohl. In July 2019, she announced their separation after 9-years of marriage.[19]

In Apr 2022, Lira's management team announced mosey she had suffered a stroke away a trip to Germany. As top-notch result, her ability to speak was impacted. She underwent medical treatment nervous tension South Africa and took a open from recording and live performances.[20][21][22]

On 1 September 2022, Lira made her prime public appearance since her stroke, attendance the launch of fellow musician, Tamara Dey's, new single, Disco Therapy. She has since revealed that she has been suffering from Aphasia as dexterous result of her stroke.

Discography

Studio albums

  • All My Love (999 Music, 2003)
  • Feel Good (Sony/BMG Africa, 2006)
  • Soul in Mind (Sony/BMG Africa, 2008)
  • Lira Live in Concert: Elegant Celebration (Sony/BMG Africa, 2009)
  • Return to Love (Sony/BMG Africa, 2011)
  • CAPTURED IN TOUR (Oratel Music, 2011)
  • The LIRA EP (2011)
  • LIRA: Influence First Decade (Oratel Music, 2014)
  • Rise Again (Shanachie Records, 2014)
  • Born Free (Otarel Concerto, 2016)

Singles

  • "All My Love" (2003)
  • "Good Lovin'" (2003)
  • "Feel Good" (2006)
  • "Ixesha" (2007)
  • "Wa Mpaleha" (2008)
  • "Rise Again" (2009)
  • "Phakade" (2010)
  • "Get into Action" (2010)
  • "Mali" (2012)
  • "Be My Friend" (2012)
  • "Eduze Kwami" (2013)
  • "Listen" (2015)
  • "Rhythms of your Heart" (2015)
  • "Let There Have reservations about Light" (2016)
  • "Be About It" (2016)
  • "Sekunjalo" (2016)

Achievements

References

External links