De Marquee

This sophisticated penthouse restaurant and lounge is one of my favorite chill out spots at the moment, located at Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria, with its panoramic view of the commercial center of the city of Lagos providing you with that feeling of calmness while observing a very alive city.

The décor of white drapes and earthy furnishing gives it that metropolitan/ethnic feeling that truly represents modern Africa, the service is polite and could even be regarded as impressive given the usual customer service standards in Lagos.The food presentation is simplistic and neat, none of that fancy arty presentations that are usually found in restaurants of this standard, with the taste been orgasmic ;). The lounge offers a mix of Neo-soul music on Saturday nights, think fine wine, delicious food while listening to Maxwell and Joe.

This lounge also offers intimate live concerts, and would be hosting MOBO award winning artist Nneka this Sunday 18th April 2010.

Location:The PenthouseMega PlazaIdowu MartinsVictoris Island,Lagos

Lira: An African Songstress

This blog is dedicated to all things African lifestyle, and lifestyle would not be complete without music,as every corner of Africa portrays the love for music and music’s love for Africa, with our natural rhythm and vocal strengths we cant help but be music.

To show case this aspect of lifestyle we would feature African artists reviews, album reviews and concerts. To kick start this part of our blog we bring to you a soul sister from the same country that brought you Marian Makeba

Lira was born Lira Molapo in the East Rand Daveyton (Ekurhuleni)South Africa on March 14, 1979. Her music is a fusion of Afro-Jazz, RnB, and Soul .After winning a competitions for young and songwriters and vocalistsShe began performing live at the age the tender age of 16, singing both cover versions and self-penned songs. However her professional journey started In 2000 when she was discovered by producer and musician “Arthur Mafokate”, who had her sign with his own record label, “999 Music”. Her debut album ‘All My Love” released in May of 2003 was 100percent self written.

Lira left record label 999 Music and teamed up with keyboardist “Victor Mngomezulu”, bassist “Tshepo Sekele”, and producer “Robin Kohl”. In 2006, her second album, Feel Good, was released and this served her some commercial and critical success. She received five nominations at the South African Grammy Awards (Best New Artist, Best Female Artist, Best R&B Album, Best Single, and Best Video). “Feel Good”, was viewed as a great Afro-jazz album, 'Feel good' was twice number 1 on Metro FM's charts on the National Top 20 ,other hits from the album included “Ixesha”

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The following year in July 2007 the album was released in Italy, where its title track gained some massive airplay. ~ Aurelio Pasin Her third album, Soul In Mind, was also released in 2008.Some of the songs include Change the world, All My Luv, Wa Mpahela, Ngiyabonga, Feel it in me, Ngiyazifela, Dance of life, Twisted, Crush, Yeah yeah yeah and Dumisa. And its definetly one to look out for.I watched her perform “Feel Good” at the Face of Africa 2010 and i was completely blown away,Lira is definetly an african vocalist to look out for

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