When R&B songbird turned Afro-soul singer, Lira (pictured), gave us Feel Good, a song and album of the same name, she quickly spread the feeling.
But now, with a nomination at the Black Entertainment Television Awards in the US behind her and a performance at US President Barack Obama’s second inauguration festivities, Lira must not only feel good, she just is that good.
It’s fitting then, for one of the best musicians in our land to headline the Mzansi Fela Festival in Pretoria.
The festival that takes place at the State Theatre until Saturday is now in its sixth season and has seen the cream of the Mzansi crop wow crowds in the music and theatre disciplines. As is tradition, the best plays that are staged at the Mzansi Fela Festival stand a chance of winning a run at the Edinburgh Festival in the Scottish capital next year.
When it comes to music, Zahara, who has made waves as the industry darling who took everyone by surprise when she sold more than 100 000 units of her debut album, Loliwe, in just 17 days, wowed the crowd this month.
This past weekend saw the leg- endary Sibongile Khumalo celebrate two decades in the music industry with a performance at the Mzansi Fela Festival.
Breaking the onslaught of female-only performances were The Parlotones who are about to embark on their farewell tour of South Africa as they prepare to relocate to the US.
Lira, who is a multi-platinum selling artist and multi-award-winner, will be the final headliner in a week filled with all things art at the State Theatre.
The title of the festival is a colloquialism that means “South Africa Only” and the organisers must be commended for keeping within that mandate by showcasing the talents of this country.
This week, Lira, the singer who goes by one name like Madonna, will perform songs from her critically acclaimed albums and if her live DVD is anything to go by, this final instalment of a two-week long festival is not to be missed.
• The Mzansi Fela Festival is at the State Theatre in Pretoria until Saturday. Buy tickets to the plays and concerts at Computicket.