Beyond Lira’s musical prowess lies an indomitable spirit that carried her through a stroke in April 2022.  

Since the 2003 release of her acclaimed debut album, All My Love, Lira’s career – spanning an awe-inspiring 20 years – has been soaring. But the lyrics to her hit single, ‘Something Inside So Strong’, found new meaning when the star suffered a stroke in March 2022, causing her to display profound inner strength throughout her journey to recovery.  

Although her speech may have been challenging, her ability to sing remained intact. “I discovered I could sing even though I couldn’t speak, and that blew my mind,” she says, smiling. This is because it takes a different part of the brain to sing. “I could remember songs I knew as a child and sing them perfectly. But when I had to think of words to say, I would struggle.”

Lira has made significant strides in her recovery, and remains in good spirits despite – or, perhaps, as a result of – her health scare: “I’ve become grateful and appreciative of every moment. In the last year, I have celebrated everything. I hope I don’t go back to living without celebrating, because I can often feel like the more life goes on, the more I take things for granted. I remind myself every day, because each day I get to live is a blessing worth celebrating.”  

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The road to recovery  

News of Lira’s stroke while in Frankfurt, Germany, sent shockwaves through South Africa. “Nineteen hours had passed before I realised I had suffered a stroke,” she shares. After being unable to speak for a few hours, she was hospitalised and there a nurse confirmed the news. “I’m healthy and young,” she thought, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events – but the truth was undeniable. And so, she embarked on her path to recovery.

Though Lira’s body wasn’t affected by the stroke, the language centre in her brain had been damaged which caused aphasia to set in. This language disorder meant she couldn’t communicate as before: she couldn’t speak, read, or write, but could otherwise live normally. “I used gestures,” she recalls. “It was a serious case of charades as people tried to figure out what I was saying. It required a lot of patience.”  

Ironically, the stroke’s worst effects were also the artist’s greatest blessing on the long road to recovery. “My brain was quiet because I had no thoughts, so nothing was bothering me. I was at peace and generally quite happy.  The silence was welcomed; I embraced it,” she says. “My intuition became sharper. I am convinced that if you don’t worry about anything, life takes care of you.” 

‘I’ve become grateful and appreciative of every moment. In the last year, i have celebrated everything.’ 

As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine – and the star took it willingly, laughing at herself when she couldn’t say simple terms. “Sometimes, I would try to communicate but the words just wouldn’t come, so I’d give up before I got too frustrated and try again later.”

Lira’s partner, family and friends rallied around her. Her mother, Buyi Radebe-Lichaba, moved in to help care for her, and kept it to one or two visitors at a time to avoid overwhelming her. With exclusive, front-row seats to the fascinating workings of her own vastly complex – and resilient – human brain, Lira was awestruck and intrigued by how quickly she started to learn.  

First, she conquered the alphabet, then moved on to numbers. Once she could put words together, it became easier and faster.  “I was like a child learning to speak,” she recalls. “I celebrated each milestone and had to keep talking, because that’s how I learned to memorise words. Now, I can hold a full conversation and speak much faster.”

Lira advises anyone on a journey to healing to see themselves as fully recovered. “Accept your situation; that way, you can figure out how to navigate it from an empowered space,” she advises. “Make small goals – ones that you can see yourself attaining – and celebrate each step of the way. You’re alive. Life wants you to be, and that’s got to count for something. Appreciate life.”  

Finding harmony 

There is something extraordinary and alluring about a woman who rises stronger each time. This is a trend that started right at the beginning of Lira’s singing career. “When I started my career, I was exploited,” she says, recalling how the first record label she worked with sought to control and monetise her, crushing her spirit and pushing her into a lengthy period of depression.  

‘Accept your situation; that way, you can figure out how to navigate it from an empowered place.’ 

She delves deeper into this issue in her 2013 autobiography, Making Herstory, which chronicles how she got out of the sticky situation with boldness and determination. “It gave me an opportunity to get myself organised. I started building my brand shortly after that, and I never looked back.”  

The star’s debut album All My Love, released in 2003, quickly became a hit, with the title track becoming the most-played South African song on the radio. Lira’s sophomore album, Feel Good, earned her the first of many SAMAs.  

The music video for the title track was the first song by a South African artist to be aired on VH1. Her third album, Soul In Mind, set a SAMA record for most awards won in a single year (four) by a solo artist, including Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. Her live DVD from the Soul In Mind tour was the first Blu-Ray music DVD release issued on the continent. This and having her own South African- and, subsequently, American tour are among her career highlights.  

Last year’s stroke interrupted the star’s trailblazing trajectory – but it also gave her an unexpected opportunity to express herself in new ways. “I like to work with my hands now,” she says. “I’ve done little creative projects throughout my house.”  In the process of rediscovering her voice, Lira also realised the value of using it more sparingly. “I’m always talking now, so I need to remind myself to be silent.”   

Is a grand return to the studio or stage on the cards anytime soon? “It’s unlikely,” she replies. “No music until I’m fully recovered. I’m doing speaking engagements, discussing what my stroke has taught me. I love sharing my stroke recovery story because I’m happier than I’ve been in a very long time. I feel that it’s a good story to share with people.”  

Lira in a flash  

Name a song that you can’t stop listening to.
‘All Of Me’ featuring Kiah Victoria by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.  

Something people are surprised to learn about you?
I used to be an accountant.  

Favourite holiday destination
Rome, in Italy – actually anywhere in Europe.  

What do you know for sure?
Anything you work consistently towards, you can attain.  

Words by: Koketso Mashika 
Photographs: Thomas Mokgosi, Promisephotography  

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