Latest news with #Maleh
Business Wire
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Charles River Associates (CRA) Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2025
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial and management consulting services, today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 28, 2025. 'Continued momentum in the business and demand for our services drove CRA's quarterly revenue to $186.9 million, representing 9.0% year-over-year growth and the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history,' said Paul Maleh, CRA's President and Chief Executive Officer. 'Broad-based contributions supported the quarter's strong performance, with seven practices growing year over year. Our Antitrust & Competition Economics, Energy, Intellectual Property, and Labor & Employment practices each posted double-digit revenue growth. Geographically, our North American and international operations contributed to the quarter's revenue growth, increasing 9.4% and 7.0%, respectively.' Highlights for Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Revenue grew 9.0% year over year to $186.9 million. Utilization was 76% and quarter-end headcount decreased 3.2% year over year. Net income increased 85.4% year over year to $12.1 million, or 6.5% of revenue, compared with $6.5 million, or 3.8% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2024; non-GAAP net income increased 0.2% year over year to $12.7 million, or 6.8% of revenue, compared with $12.7 million, or 7.4% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Earnings per diluted share increased 90.4% year over year to $1.79 from $0.94 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024; non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 2.7% year over year to $1.88 from $1.83 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Non-GAAP EBITDA increased 4.4% to $23.3 million, or 12.4% of revenue, compared with $22.3 million, or 13.0% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. On a constant currency basis relative to the second quarter of fiscal 2024, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been lower by $1.5 million, $0.1 million and $0.03 per diluted share, respectively. Non-GAAP net income, earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been lower by $0.1 million, $0.02 per diluted share and $0.2 million, respectively. CRA returned $46.6 million of capital to its shareholders, consisting of $3.4 million of dividend payments and $43.2 million for share repurchases of approximately 231,000 shares. Management Commentary and Financial Guidance 'Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2025, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2024, CRA generated total revenue of $367.6 million, the highest first-half revenue in CRA's history, and non-GAAP EBITDA of $47.7 million, achieving a margin of 13.0%,' continued Maleh. 'Reflecting the strong start to the year, we are raising our revenue guidance and increasing the lower end of our profit guidance. For full-year fiscal 2025, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2024, we expect revenue in the range of $730 million to $745 million and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in the range of 12.3% to 13.0%. This new guidance compares with a prior revenue range of $715 million to $735 million and a prior non-GAAP EBITDA margin range of 12.0% to 13.0%. As a reminder our fiscal year ends on January 3, 2026, resulting in a 14th week in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. While we are pleased with CRA's performance through the first half of the year, we remain mindful that uncertain global macroeconomic, business, and political conditions can affect our business and our clients.' CRA does not provide reconciliations of its annual non-GAAP EBITDA margin guidance to GAAP net income margin because the Company is unable to estimate with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort: (i) unusual gains or charges, foreign currency exchange rates and the resulting effect of these items on CRA's taxes and (ii) the impact of equity awards on CRA's taxes. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and may have a material effect on CRA's results computed in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation between the historical GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release is provided in the financial tables at the end of this release. Quarterly Dividend On July 31, 2025, CRA announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.49 per common share, payable on September 12, 2025 to shareholders of record as of August 26, 2025. CRA expects to continue paying quarterly dividends, the declaration, timing and amounts of which remain subject to the discretion of CRA's Board of Directors. Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks CRA will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its second-quarter 2025 financial results. To listen to the live call, please visit the ' Investor Relations ' section of CRA's website at or dial (877) 709-8155 or (201) 689-8881. An archived version of the webcast will be available on CRA's website for one year. In combination with this press release, CRA has posted prepared remarks by its interim CFO, Chad Holmes, under 'Quarterly Earnings' in the ' Investor Relations ' section on CRA's website at These remarks are offered each quarter to provide the investment community with additional background on CRA's financial results prior to the start of the conference call. About Charles River Associates (CRA) Charles River Associates® is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES In this release, CRA has supplemented the presentation of its financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or 'GAAP' with the following financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP: non‑GAAP net income, non‑GAAP earnings per diluted share and non‑GAAP EBITDA. CRA believes that the non-GAAP financial measures described in this press release are important to management and investors because these measures supplement the understanding of CRA's ongoing operating results and financial condition. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are used by CRA in its budgeting process, and the non-GAAP adjustments are made to the performance measures for some of CRA's performance-based compensation. As used herein, CRA defines non-GAAP EBITDA as net income before interest expense (net), provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization further adjusted for the impact of certain items that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance, such as non-cash amounts relating to valuation changes in contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs, foreign currency (gains) losses, net, restructuring costs and related tax effects. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share also exclude non-cash amounts relating to valuation changes in contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs, foreign currency (gains) losses, net, restructuring costs and related tax effects. This release also presents certain current fiscal period financial measures on a 'constant currency' basis in order to isolate the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations can have on CRA's financial results. These constant currency measures are determined by recalculating the current fiscal period local currency financial measure using the specified corresponding prior fiscal period's foreign exchange rates. On a constant currency basis for the fiscal year-to-date period ended June 28, 2025 relative to the fiscal year-to-date period ended June 29, 2024, revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been lower by $1.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively. All of the non-GAAP financial measures referred to above should be considered in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, the GAAP financial information presented in this release. EBITDA and the financial measures identified in this release as 'non-GAAP' are reconciled to their GAAP comparable measures in the financial tables appended to the end of this press release. In evaluating these non-GAAP financial measures, note that the non-GAAP financial measures used by CRA may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT Statements in this press release concerning our future business, operating results and financial condition, including those concerning guidance on future revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA margin, the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our financial results, our expectations regarding continued growth, our expectations regarding the payment of any future quarterly dividends and the level and extent of any purchases under our expanded share repurchase program, and statements using the terms 'outlook,' 'expect,' or similar expressions, are 'forward-looking' statements as defined in Section 21 of the Exchange Act. These statements are based upon our current expectations and various underlying assumptions. Although we believe there is a reasonable basis for these statements and assumptions, and these statements are expressed in good faith, these statements are subject to a number of additional factors and uncertainties. Our actual revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in fiscal 2025 on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2024 could differ materially from the guidance presented herein, and our actual performance and results may differ materially from the performance and results contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements made herein, due to many important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in general and industry specific economic conditions; the timing of engagements for our services; the effects of competitive services and pricing; our ability to attract and retain key employee or non-employee experts; the inability to integrate and utilize existing consultants and personnel; the decline or reduction in project work or activity; global economic conditions including less stable political and economic environments; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; unanticipated expenses and liabilities; risks inherent in international operations; changes in tax law or accounting standards, rules, and regulations; our ability to collect on forgivable loans should any become due; and professional and other legal liability or settlements. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading 'Risk Factors.' The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as our representation that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated will be achieved. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, and we do not intend to do so. CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED JUNE 28, 2025 COMPARED TO JUNE 29, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Fiscal Quarter Ended Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue Revenues $ 186,878 100.0 % $ 171,442 100.0 % $ 368,729 100.0 % $ 343,230 100.0 % Costs of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 128,542 68.8 % 125,327 73.1 % 248,896 67.5 % 244,206 71.1 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 35,079 18.8 % 32,016 18.7 % 67,617 18.3 % 62,514 18.2 % Depreciation and amortization 3,530 1.9 % 2,811 1.6 % 6,941 1.9 % 5,603 1.6 % Income from operations 19,727 10.6 % 11,288 6.6 % 45,275 12.3 % 30,907 9.0 % Interest expense, net (1,796 ) -1.0 % (1,483 ) -0.9 % (2,225 ) -0.6 % (1,948 ) -0.6 % Foreign currency gains (losses), net (815 ) -0.4 % (191 ) -0.1 % (1,290 ) -0.3 % (333 ) -0.1 % Income before provision for income taxes 17,116 9.2 % 9,614 5.6 % 41,760 11.3 % 28,626 8.3 % Provision for income taxes 4,994 2.7 % 3,076 1.8 % 11,636 3.2 % 8,397 2.4 % Net income $ 12,122 6.5 % $ 6,538 3.8 % $ 30,124 8.2 % $ 20,229 5.9 % Net income per share: Basic $ 1.81 $ 0.96 $ 4.47 $ 2.93 Diluted $ 1.79 $ 0.94 $ 4.42 $ 2.90 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 6,694 6,834 6,734 6,880 Diluted 6,753 6,911 6,807 6,961 Expand CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED JUNE 28, 2025 COMPARED TO JUNE 29, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Fiscal Quarter Ended Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue Revenues $ 186,878 100.0 % $ 171,442 100.0 % $ 368,729 100.0 % $ 343,230 100.0 % Net income $ 12,122 6.5 % $ 6,538 3.8 % $ 30,124 8.2 % $ 20,229 5.9 % Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income: Restructuring and other (1)(2) - - % 8,176 4.8 % (4,170 ) -1.1 % 8,176 2.4 % Foreign currency (gains) losses, net 815 0.4 % 190 0.1 % 1,290 0.3 % 332 0.1 % Tax effect on adjustments (214 ) -0.1 % (2,205 ) -1.3 % 733 0.2 % (2,239 ) -0.7 % Non-GAAP net income $ 12,723 6.8 % $ 12,699 7.4 % $ 27,977 7.6 % $ 26,498 7.7 % Non-GAAP net income per share: Basic $ 1.90 $ 1.85 $ 4.15 $ 3.84 Diluted $ 1.88 $ 1.83 $ 4.10 $ 3.80 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 6,694 6,834 6,734 6,880 Diluted 6,753 6,911 6,807 6,961 (1) Fiscal year-to-date period ended June 28, 2025 includes $1.2 million of restructuring charges, net of the reversal of $5.4 million of non-cash charges associated with a previously recorded performance award. (2) Fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date period ended June 29, 2024 includes cash severance of $2.5M and non-cash charges of $5.7M associated with portfolio optimization actions. Expand CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED JUNE 28, 2025 COMPARED TO JUNE 29, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS) Fiscal Quarter Ended Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue June 28, 2025 As a % of Revenue June 29, 2024 As a % of Revenue Revenues $ 186,878 100.0 % $ 171,442 100.0 % $ 368,729 100.0 % $ 343,230 100.0 % Net income $ 12,122 6.5 % $ 6,538 3.8 % $ 30,124 8.2 % $ 20,229 5.9 % Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income: Restructuring and other (1)(2) - - % 8,176 4.8 % (4,170 ) -1.1 % 8,176 2.4 % Foreign currency (gains) losses, net 815 0.4 % 190 0.1 % 1,290 0.3 % 332 0.1 % Tax effect on adjustments (214 ) -0.1 % (2,205 ) -1.3 % 733 0.2 % (2,239 ) -0.7 % Non-GAAP net income $ 12,723 6.8 % $ 12,699 7.4 % $ 27,977 7.6 % $ 26,498 7.7 % Adjustments needed to reconcile non-GAAP net income to non-GAAP EBITDA: Interest expense, net 1,796 1.0 % 1,483 0.9 % 2,225 0.6 % 1,948 0.6 % Provision for income taxes 5,208 2.8 % 5,281 3.1 % 10,903 3.0 % 10,636 3.1 % Depreciation and amortization 3,530 1.9 % 2,811 1.6 % 6,941 1.9 % 5,603 1.6 % Non-GAAP EBITDA $ 23,257 12.4 % $ 22,274 13.0 % $ 48,046 13.0 % $ 44,685 13.0 % (1) Fiscal year-to-date period ended June 28, 2025 includes $1.2 million of restructuring charges, net of the reversal of $5.4 million of non-cash charges associated with a previously recorded performance award. (2) Fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date period ended June 29, 2024 includes cash severance of $2.5M and non-cash charges of $5.7M associated with portfolio optimization actions. Expand CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. (IN THOUSANDS) June 28, 2025 December 28, 2024 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,448 $ 26,711 Accounts receivable and unbilled services, net 235,025 219,548 Other current assets 38,635 23,104 Total current assets 293,108 269,363 Property and equipment, net 41,338 45,205 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 101,399 100,953 Right-of-use assets 83,353 81,157 Other assets 87,579 74,761 Total assets $ 606,777 $ 571,439 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Accounts payable $ 24,628 $ 28,155 Accrued expenses 139,751 181,413 Current portion of lease liabilities 18,718 18,696 Revolving line of credit 120,000 - Other current liabilities 14,228 23,045 Total current liabilities 317,325 251,309 Non-current portion of lease liabilities 85,166 84,541 Other non-current liabilities 7,286 23,516 Total liabilities 409,777 359,366 Total shareholders' equity 197,000 212,073 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 606,777 $ 571,439 Expand CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. (IN THOUSANDS) Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended June 28, 2025 June 29, 2024 Operating activities: Net income $ 30,124 $ 20,229 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: Non-cash items, net 17,709 15,769 Accounts receivable and unbilled services (11,371 ) (18,476 ) Working capital items, net (110,604 ) (78,795 ) Net cash used in operating activities (74,142 ) (61,273 ) Investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment, net (2,163 ) (3,046 ) Consideration paid for acquisition, net - (1,500 ) Net cash used in investing activities (2,163 ) (4,546 ) Financing activities: Borrowings under revolving line of credit 132,000 93,000 Repayments under revolving line of credit (12,000 ) (6,000 ) Tax withholding payments reimbursed by shares (2,809 ) (1,977 ) Cash dividends paid (6,858 ) (5,976 ) Repurchase of common stock (43,150 ) (33,348 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 67,183 45,699 Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 1,859 (817 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (7,263 ) (20,937 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 26,711 45,586 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 19,448 $ 24,649 Noncash investing and financing activities: Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses for property and equipment $ (585 ) $ 553 Excise tax on share repurchases $ (388 ) $ (300 ) Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations $ 7,808 $ 2,329 Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid for taxes $ 14,854 $ 12,681 Cash paid for interest $ 1,670 $ 1,533 Cash paid for amounts included in operating lease liabilities $ 11,515 $ 11,163 Expand
eNCA
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Maleh to perform at this year's Mayibuye iAfrika Concert
JOHANNESBURG - The third edition of the Mayibuye iAfrika Concert will take place at the Joburg Theatre this weekend. READ | Rufus Wainwright's 'Dream Requiem' explores catastrophe and redemption The concert serves as a musical homage to South Africa's diverse cultural legacy that reflects the essence of ubuntu. This year's edition is a call to action for the youth as Youth Month festivities wrap up. Award winning afro-soul singer and songwriter Maleh unpacks more details with eNCA.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CRAI Q1 Earnings Call: Broad-Based Growth, Robust Antitrust Demand, and Steady Guidance
Economic consulting firm CRA International (NASDAQ:CRAI) reported Q1 CY2025 results beating Wall Street's revenue expectations , with sales up 5.9% year on year to $181.9 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $725 million at the midpoint came in 0.9% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.22 per share was 13.8% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CRAI? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $181.9 million vs analyst estimates of $176.6 million (5.9% year-on-year growth, 3% beat) Adjusted EPS: $2.22 vs analyst estimates of $1.95 (13.8% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $24.79 million vs analyst estimates of $22.1 million (13.6% margin, 12.2% beat) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $725 million at the midpoint Operating Margin: 14%, up from 11.4% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$80.97 million compared to -$63.81 million in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.27 billion CRA International's first quarter results were shaped by broad-based contributions across key practices and geographies. Management attributed revenue growth to double-digit expansion in its Energy, Finance, Intellectual Property, and Life Sciences practices, with the Antitrust & Competition Economics group achieving a new revenue high. CEO Paul Maleh highlighted the acceleration of project lead flow through the quarter, noting that consulting utilization improved and that performance was supported by international operations, which saw nearly 20% year-on-year growth. Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance, citing continued momentum in new business origination and a replenished sales pipeline. Maleh cautioned that while March's positive trends continued into April, it remains too early to assume these trends will persist throughout the year, given ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. He added that CRA remains focused on optimizing its service portfolio and aligning headcount growth with revenue opportunities. CRA International's management pointed to multiple factors driving Q1 performance, emphasizing practice diversification, geographic expansion, and a steady demand environment. The company's results exceeded analysts' expectations, aided by improved consulting utilization and project origination. Antitrust practice momentum: The Antitrust & Competition Economics group reached record quarterly revenue, fueled by ongoing demand for merger-related and antitrust advisory work, including high-profile projects such as supporting Microsoft in regulatory matters. International growth contributions: International operations delivered nearly 20% year-on-year revenue growth, with management citing a balanced portfolio across North America and global markets as key to consistent performance. Collaborative client delivery: Management highlighted increased collaboration across practices and geographies, enabling the firm to address complex, multi-jurisdictional projects involving litigation, M&A, and regulatory compliance. Life Sciences and Energy strength: The Life Sciences practice extended its turnaround, posting another strong quarter across opportunity assessment and launch planning, while Energy consulting saw double-digit revenue gains through projects in strategy, risk, and transaction support. Service portfolio optimization: The company completed targeted restructuring affecting 15 roles, intended to align resources with areas of higher growth potential. Management emphasized ongoing investment in talent acquisition and retention to support future expansion. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year centers on sustained demand for legal, regulatory, and management consulting services, tempered by an awareness of economic and geopolitical uncertainties that could affect client activity. Sales pipeline health: Continued growth in project lead flow and new project originations underpins management's confidence in meeting guidance, though they acknowledge that business inflow can be sensitive to shifts in client sentiment. Practice diversification: The company's broad mix of practices—spanning antitrust, finance, energy, and life sciences—positions it to capture growth across multiple sectors, reducing reliance on any single client or industry vertical. Headcount and talent alignment: Ongoing investments in hiring and talent retention are expected to keep consultant headcount roughly in line with revenue growth, supporting utilization rates and client delivery capabilities. Andrew Nicholas (William Blair): Asked how recent April trends influence confidence in guidance; CEO Maleh said March's momentum continued but noted it is too early to assume these trends will persist. Andrew Nicholas (William Blair): Queried about the Life Sciences pipeline; Maleh stated the practice is seeing broad success geographically and across service areas, hoping for continued momentum. Andrew Nicholas (William Blair): Sought clarification on headcount plans and retention; Maleh explained that headcount remains flat sequentially, with ongoing investments in both new hires and retaining talent. Marc Riddick (Sidoti & Company): Asked if recent business acceleration was tied to external events; Maleh said no single driver was identifiable, attributing growth to a diversified portfolio. Kevin Steinke (Barrington Research): Inquired about restructuring; Maleh clarified the move was a targeted optimization, not a reflection of overall practice health. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) whether growth in project origination and sales pipeline leads to consistent revenue expansion, (2) if utilization rates remain elevated as consultant headcount adjusts to business needs, and (3) further momentum within high-performing practices such as Antitrust & Competition Economics, Energy, and Life Sciences. Talent acquisition and retention efforts, as well as the firm's ability to adapt to external market conditions, will remain important areas of focus. CRA currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 23.3×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? Find out in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Lira's powerful return: Overcoming adversity through music
South African singer Lira celebrates a year of music after stroke recovery. Image: Instagram/miss_lira South African singer Lira left the audience visibly emotional at this year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival, delivering a powerful performance that reminded everyone of her strength. Watching her perform after everything she's been through, especially as someone in the crowd, was a moment that felt both intimate and unforgettable. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In April 2022, Lira suffered a stroke while in Germany, which affected her speech and left her unable to communicate properly. It was a scary and uncertain time, and she stepped away from the spotlight to focus on her recovery. Her family later confirmed she was in good spirits but had lost her ability to speak. Yet somehow, even in the middle of her struggle to form words, singing came naturally to her. That part of her spirit, it seems, remained untouched. While she's still working on speaking fluently, music has continued to flow from her almost effortlessly. Lira recently reflected on social media about how far she's come. It's now been a full year since she returned to performing, with her first live show post-stroke taking place on May 12, 2024, during a Mother's Day celebration at the Nirox Foundation, where she shared the stage with Maleh and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. 'The first time I performed in a public space… It's a year since I've been singing post-stroke,' she wrote, sharing photos from that day. As Lira shared a message at CTIJF that stayed with many: 'Slow down in the moment. We rush through life. Missing life as it goes by. I can't do that anymore. I'm staying in the moment!' And with grace, she added, 'The stroke was a blessing to me. I learnt to love life joyfully and appreciate what life has to offer.' Lira's voice, quite literally, has become her way back. Fans are proud of Lira and are grateful for her recovery. @thobeka_fitnessmom commented, "Whenever I listen to the heart of a child, it takes me back to your journey. We thank God for your music and your recovery, sis . We love you ❤️." @pelemkha commented, "Amazing, my Queen, you're an inspiration !! 😍❤️🔥." @maleh_music also wrote, "God's Faithfulness😍❤️❤️You are exceptional ... it was epic. What an Honour!!" Cape Argus
TimesLIVE
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Jazz musician Billy Monama excited about hosting 3rd edition of Mayibuye iAfrika concert
Jazz artist Billy Monama will host the Mayibuye iAfrika concert in Johannesburg next month. The concert returns for its third electrifying edition, this time with a 'powerful youth unleash special' and legendary line-up. The musical experience takes place on June 28 and 29 at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein. The concert will feature artists such as Soul Brothers, Maleh, Berita and many more. Curated and directed by celebrated renowned guitarist, composer and author Billy, the 2025 concert will present a 4.5-hour musical journey that transcends generations. Backed by a 20-piece orchestra, masterfully arranged and conducted by Grammy Award-winning producer Joe Arthur, the soundscape promises to be nothing short of unforgettable, according to the organisers. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Billy said the event is aligning with South Africa's youth month and honouring the role of young people in their 'excellence, cultural diversity, resilience and optimism'. 'Mayibuye iAfrika celebrates South Africa's rich musical heritage, revives the spirit of ubuntu and unity. It's a call to preserve our stories, social cohesion and shape a progressive future through playing our part in community. This concert will be a feast for music scholars, aspiring and current musicians, as well as Maskandi, Kwela, Afro-soul, Mbaqanga and African jazz connoisseurs and fans,' he said.
