“Every Time I Made Progress, I Celebrated” – Lira on Life After Her Stroke

Award-winning singer Lira has opened up about how surviving a stroke completely changed the way she looks at life. The experience, though difficult, helped her learn to appreciate even the smallest things — especially the ability to speak.

In an emotional story shared with TimesLIVE, Lira talked about her long and slow journey to recovery. She explained how the stroke affected her speech and forced her to start over from scratch.

“I had to relearn speaking as a little child. I had to learn the alphabet, I had to learn how to put simple words together, like ‘cat, hello, apple’, and put those words together to form a sentence,” she shared. “It was a very slow process, but every time I made progress, I celebrated.”

For Lira, what many people take for granted, like being able to talk,  became something deeply meaningful. Each small step forward was a big personal victory.

“Slowing down made me appreciate the progress I was making. It filled me with gratitude, it filled me with joy, I was excited to see my progress,” she said.

Lira’s recovery was not just physical — it was emotional too. Her healing journey gave her a fresh perspective on life and reminded her to cherish the little things.

After months of speech therapy, rehabilitation, and inner growth, Lira is finally back to doing what she loves, performing. She’s now preparing to take the stage once again at the Business Premium Jazz Festival happening on September 24 at Carnival City in Ekurhuleni.

She’ll be performing alongside two of South Africa’s top music stars, Thandiswa Mazwai and Amanda Black, promising fans an unforgettable experience.

“All of us, we’re going to give our fans the show they’ve never experienced before … I can’t wait,” Lira said with excitement.

Her journey is a powerful reminder of how strength, patience, and gratitude can turn even the hardest challenges into meaningful victories.