She appeared on the Sounds of Brazil stage in a funky tan dress and her bright smile seemed even more radiant in the dim light. In a soft and predictably beautiful voice she thanked the audience for making it out and then joked about how the freezing temperatures had forced her to reconsider her outfit. Lira had barely made it onto the stage and yet she already had a connection with the audience. It felt as though a friend was about to perform, not one of South Africa's award winning, top female musicians. On stage with Lira was a group of four talented, young musicians–drummer Joshua Zacheus, bassist Earl Baartman, keyboardist Vicky Mngomezulu, and guitarist Kendon Windvogel–otherwise known as “The Love Band”.

The name Lira is derived from the singer's birth name Lerato which, in her mother-tongue  Sesotho, means "love".  The name could not be better suited to the artist whose message is often about matters of the heart. Perhaps it is this affinity towards the universal language of love, that allows Lira to connect with the audience so easily. The show kicked off with her debut album title track “All my love”, a song which marked the beginning of Lira's blossoming career. This was followed by the Jill Scott-esque sounds of “Typical” and “Crush” from Lira's sophomore album Feel Good (2006). Moving on from soul to jazz Lira paid homage to a favorite of hers, Sade, with an up-tempo version of “Sweetest Taboo” before moving on to "Call me".  From her fourth album, Return to Love (2011) “Call me” is about women's initial struggle to detach from ended relationships. The audience reacted to Lira’s commentary on inappropriate post-breakup behavior, like the unnecessary "call me" voicemail, with laughter and approval. It is this type of interaction that makes Lira the lovable and extraordinary live performer that she is.



Aided by drummer and evidently vocalist Joshua Zacheus, Lira's first Zulu song of the night was “Hamba”. She gave a theatrical performance truly taking on the persona of the scorned woman whom she was singing about. During this particular act the presence of Lira's fans was amplified as they sang along in Zulu and brightened up the dark space with the glow of their video-recording cell phones.  Switching gears with the elevating "We Rise Again", Lira delivered a message of hope and perseverance. Along with a powerful voice, the authenticity of her performance was enhanced by passionate enactments and the brief narratives she likes to share.  The next number “Dear Money” involved an impromptu but yet smooth translation from Zulu to English. Even with the English lyrics the traditional South African sounds could be heard in this tune that kept the crowd dancing. The song was blessing of sorts from Lira to the audience, wishing money and success unto all.



One of the highlights of the night was the much anticipated “Nigyazifela” which was the song that Lira performed for President Obama. The song, which means “madly in love” in Zulu slang, was dedicated to President Obama and the first lady in honor of the solid love that they have for each other.  After being in the presence of the musical powerhouse that is Lira, there is no doubt that she is deserving of the prestige that has come from her Washington D.C. performance. Continuing in the spirit of love, Lira presented another beautiful ballad "Phakade" before moving onto the first Xhosa song of the night, "Ixesha". The catchy afro-jazz tune was then followed by "Feeling Good" from her like-titled sophomore album.

The show ended with on a high note with surprise guest JSomething, of South African house band "Micasa”, joining Lira on stage. This part of the show felt more like a jam session by superstar friends, with Jsomething and Lira teaching some South African dance moves to the obliging crowd. Like true fans the crowd called for more and although Lira was willing, the venue had to be cleared for the next performance.  Lira's talent is unquestionable and her energy is contagious, witnessing her live was a truly unforgettable experience.