LIRA RETURNS TO JOBURG PRIDE

South African singer Lira will be the headline performer at this year’s Johannesburg LGBTIAO Pride proudly supported by Lovers + , taking place on Saturday 28 September at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.

The multi-platinum singer/songwriter and SAMA award winner has a strong gay following and has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT community. She previously performed at Joburg Pride in 2011.

“For me Pride is about celebrating who you are. That is the theme for my performance and I’m looking forward to dazzling my fans,” Lira told Mambaonline on Tuesday.

In a 2011 interview with Mambaonline, she said: “I think gay boys love singers. I think there’s something that resonates with them in as far as the diva performer goes.”

Lira added: “My gay friends and fans have contributed a lot in me coming out of my shell and exploring new and exciting things”.

A special costume for Lira’s performance at Johannesburg Pride is being created by designer Daniel J Fitchet.

Lira will perform at 4.30pm, opening the evening’s live entertainment. She’ll be followed by acts including Nomfusi (who plays Miriam Makeba in the upcoming Long Walk to Freedom), Ursula Viviers, Holly & the Woods, The Follies drag troupe and Kinky Robot.

“We are very fortunate to get entertainers like Lira, Nomfusi, Holly & the Woods and Kinky Robot. Some of them include members of the LGBTI community and they have come forward to assist us at no cost,” said Kaye Ally from Johannesburg Pride.

Ally said that the line-up was intended to “cater to the diversity of the community as well as the diversity of the people we expect to be coming on the day of the event”.

Just after 10pm, dance music will take over from the stage performers, with a host of DJs, including Stuart Hillary, Sam, Minx, Sean Spammer, Divalesh and many more, set to enthrall the crowds.

The festivities come to a close after the final DJ performs from 2.45am.

The day’s proceedings begin at 2:30pm with the parade through the city’s streets, which starts and ends at Mary Fitzgerald Square.

Johannesburg Pride 2013 is sponsored by Lovers + and partnered with the Pink Loerie.