4 noteworthy celebrity comebacks
EVERYDAY experiences, good or bad, can leave us with a teachable moment. The same goes for celebrities, who find a silver lining in difficult situations, challenges or from their loved ones.
Below we shine a spotlight on those who were not only able to overcome challenges but also learned to grow with them along the way.
Bucie
After taking a break from the music scene in 2017, following a decade-long career, Bucie is back and fans are buzzing with excitement.
Bucie said she stepped away to focus on her record label and spend more time with her family. During her recent interview on Radio 2000, she opened up to listeners about her comeback story.
Bucie said while many people had speculated that her ex-husband convinced her to stop making music, she was the one who planned to go on a hiatus.
She said being a mother is a beautiful journey and she wanted to be present for every moment with her children and give them her undivided attention.
Marking her comeback, Bucie recently hosted her live concert, “Bucie Live: An Intimate Experience” in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Thanking her fans, the “East to Love” hitmaker said: “I still have no words. The love you guys have shown me is incredible. Thank you so much for selling out both nights of my shows last week.
“You’ve truly made me feel loved and welcomed, and you’ve taught me we might need a bigger venue next time, lol. Now, who’s ready for the next one? Cape Town? Durban? Ndiready!”
Vuyo Dabula
After surviving a near-fatal shooting during a hijacking, Vuyo Dabula recently made his comeback on Showmax’s “The Butcher’s Soul” as Saul.
He also opened up about his post-recovery journey.
“Funnily enough, I started my career doing ads as a model before gravitating towards full-time acting. I have also been focusing on recovering mentally and spiritually from that horrible near-death experience. It has been a good year so far, with much introspection and self-care.”
During his recovery, the former “Generations: The Legacy” actor also spent his time rediscovering his other interests, such as cooking.
“I have been enjoying making meal preps for the gym, cooking cheat meals, and cooking for my son.
“Additionally, I have been getting back into playing the guitar with a tutor here in South Africa. This time off has allowed me to introspect and reconnect with myself.”
Letoya Makhene
After a hiatus also from the music industry, former “Isidingo” and “Generations: The Legacy” actress Letoya Makhene is back and ready to entertain some of her most devoted followers.
On July 11, Makhene signed a record deal with Ntethe Global Effect, marking her comeback to the music scene.
In a series of interviews, she revealed that she was unable to work on music as much as she would have wanted to due to having a busy schedule but is confident that it is all now a thing of the past.
“Signing with Ntethe Global Effect is a dream come true. It is great to finally get back to doing what I was born to do and to be able to work with a team of professionals whose goals are aligned with mine,” said Makhene, in a statement.
Lawrence Maleka
In his first major role since his exit as the much-loved Zolani on “The River”, Lawrence Maleka has viewers on the edge of their seats once again in a new Netflix rom-com, “Lobola Man”.
Produced by Burnt Onion Productions and directed by Thabang Moleya, the movie follows Ace Ngubeni (Lawrence Maleka), a slick lobola negotiator who faces his toughest deal yet for a shy client, only to find the stakes are higher than cash.
Commenting on his comeback, Maleka said: “Getting back on set felt really good. It was familiar territory but a different discipline this time. I was taking a crack at comedy to see if I could pull it off.
“I was told that comedy is one of the most difficult genres to do, but if anything is difficult, I’m definitely going to do it. It feels good to be back on screen, especially coming back to a role like Ace Ngubeni.”
Besides being back in acting, Maleka is also the host of the new e.tv game show “Friends of Amstel: The Challenge”, which airs every Saturday at 6pm.
Lira
May 25 marked Lerato ‘Lira’ Molapo’s return to the big stage after suffering a stroke in 2022. The singer took to Instagram to share her experience and excitement.
“This was so surreal! I never thought I would be singing so soon. I’ve worked hard, but there’ve been times when the progress was SO slow,” she said.
Lira says her struggle and triumph have taught her that anything is possible.
“Now I know that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I’m so proud of myself. I’m experiencing the season of being proud of myself. It was so emotional – I cried many tears yesterday, tears of pride, joy, and triumph!" she added.
Since her big performance in May, Lira has continued to shine brightly on local stages.