Renowned musician and reality tv star Loyiso Bala recently opened up about a touching memory of his late father, Arthur Bala, who passed away when Loyiso was very young. In an emotional social media post, Loyiso shared the only photo he has of his father, captured with his mother in December 1978. He was born the following year, just before his father’s health began to decline.
He shared, “This is the only picture I have of my late father, Arthur Bala, here with uMama in December 1978. I was born in September the following year, so you can do the math.”
Arthur Bala worked in human resources at Volkswagen, a highly respected role for a Black man during Apartheid. But after the photo was taken, Arthur’s health began to fail, and he eventually became bedridden. He lost his job, his vitality, and much of what he had worked for, leaving Loyiso’s mother to raise the family alone.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Loyiso explained the meaning behind his name: “He named me Loyiso, meaning ‘victory,’ believing I’d be his victory over sickness. Although that dream never fully came to pass, I am grateful for those precious years I spent with him.”
Loyiso recalled the times spent by his father’s bedside, listening to his father’s wisdom and experiencing his gentle spirit, even in illness. Those moments, he said, shaped him into the man he is today.
“Looking at my life now, I see God’s grace turning sorrow into joy and giving me beauty for ashes, just as my father hoped when he named me Loyiso, his ‘victory.’ Today, I honor and salute you, Tata. My life will carry forward the victory you dreamed of, a living testament to your strength, love, and unwavering belief in me to overcome the struggles you could not.”
