SOUTH African musician Lloyd Cele, who rose to fame during Idols’ sixth season when he was named runner-up, has had an extremely busy year following the release of his second album and next month’s launch of his autobiography.
The entertainer, who won a Sama award for Best Pop Album earlier this year for his album One, said he and his wife Janice and their three-year-old son Levi had also welcomed a daughter into the family, Zoey Luthando, two months ago.
"She is so adorable. I love her so much. My wife and I always wanted a daughter.
"Before she arrived, we bought Levi a present and said it was from Zoey. Now he is so over-protective of her that when the nurse came to take Zoey for a bath at the hospital, he cried,” Cele said.
He said he would be performing in East London tomorrow and in Mthatha on Sunday for events management services company Showgroup.
"The past year has been quite hectic for me. Winning the Sama was a moment I will never forget because I did not expect it. It is a bonus to be rewarded for doing something I love.”
Cele said he was especially proud of his new album, which was released two weeks ago. "The album is called No Limits because a lot of people out there thought that I would not be able to pull it off. There are a lot of limitations in life but you just need to work hard and break through.”
He said he believed the new album had bridged the gap between English and Afro-Pop. There were 15 tracks on the album, 13 written by him.
Cele said he was confident that each of the tracks was as special as his hit from his debut album One, which features Loyiso Bala. He said fans would especially love the first single, Hero. He has also released a new cellphone, called Celebrate, in partnership with AG Cellular.
"I am looking forward to taking a sabbatical from making albums next year. I want to look at other business ventures and spend quality time with my family.”
Cele said his autobiography, The Dream of an Idol, which tells how he was raised in an impoverished home by his single mother and grandmother, would be launched next month.
"I think a lot of black kids can relate to being raised like that. I want to show them that despite this, they can still become something.”
