News

Lionel Richie signs autographs for fans at South African radio, K FM 94.5

Legendary soul singer Lionel Richie was welcomed by thousands as he performed for first time in South Africa on the African leg of his COMING HOME tour.

Richie, who has sold more than 1 million albums in the country, held four concerts, playing to crowds of more than 30,000, who packed venues such as Cape Town’s Sahara Park Stadium to see him.

The Hello and All Night Long singer was first invited to South Africa in 1987 but never made it.

“It’s taken me a long time to get here,” he told The Sunday News.

Richie, a fan of Beyonce, Usher and Rihanna, has also been involved with raising funds to battle AIDS in South Africa and other African countries.

He said he is still committed, particularly to USA for Africa, established in the 1980s by 45 mostly American artistes to raise funds to reduce famine and disease on the continent.

We are the World, written in 1985 by Ritchie and Michael Jackson, raised considerable funds for the foundation.

Richie said lack of funding almost closed the project. “We were about to shut down the USA for Africa office about 10 years ago. Then, we got (US) $15m in donations and we started it back up again,”explained Richie, who said he was delighted with

granddaughter Harlow from adopted daughter, Nicole.

“Being a grandfather has changed my life; my heart melted at the birth of my grandchild," he said.

Lionel Richie is expected to tour the UK next year and has a new album due out around February 2009 entitled 'JUST GO'.

Published: 02 December 2008
Issue: 1349

site comments powered by Disqus