CELEBRATORY GETAWAY WITH LLOYD CELE AND FAMILY

We joined Lloyd Cele and family at Kloofzicht Lodge for a celebration of his 15th wedding anniversary and son’s birthday.

A Lloyd Cele song is as good as a holiday from the workday blues. His homegrown sound has won the love and loyalty of DJs and fans, and awards from best POP album to Best RnB song. But where did it all begin?

Born and raised in KwaMashu to a single mother, life was not easy for Lloyd. Growing up, it was evident that he had a passion for music and wanted nothing more than to sing and dance like Michael Jackson.

“I used to go to shopping centres to dance and sing like Michael Jackson for people to make some cash.”

Unfortunately, due to his circumstances, Lloyd gave up on his dream of music and focused his energy on IT and obtained a Diploma in Software Engineering. But thanks to a series of fortuitous events was given the opportunity to live out his dreams.

In 2010, Lloyd auditioned for South African reality competition, Idols. Although he did not win, he was named the runner up and said that entering the competition significantly impacted his life.

“When I had given up on myself, I saw people vote for me and support me and lift my spirit up and that gave me the fuel I needed to keep going strong and not give up.”

Since then, his career as a musician has continued to grow. Among numerous music award nominations, Lloyd won best POP album and Metro FM’s award for Best RnB song.

Lloyd’s career has seen him perform outside of the country and alongside iconic household names including AKA, Casper Nyovest, Kwesta, Danny K and Loyiso. He also had the privilege of writing a song with the Soweto Gospel Choir for Nelson Mandela.

To find out more about his career highlights, we joined Lloyd on a weekend getaway in the Cradle of Humankind with his family.

Located in Krugersdorp, Gauteng lies Kloofzicht Lodge and Spa, a 5-star lodge on an exquisite nature reserve. The lodge provides stylish interiors with tastefully suites overlooking the magnificent Zwartkops mountain range and fly fishing dams.

Being on a nature reserve, guests of the Kloofzicht Lodge and Spa are exposed to a variety of wildlife including zebras, kudus, impalas, and blue wildebeests.

The lodge offers a variety of recreational facilities and activities including an outdoor hot tub, hiking, and hot air balloon rides. The Cele family took the opportunity to go on an adventure.

“I think any adventure whether it’s going into nature or just being in the city, as long as we’re together as a family, it’s always exciting,” explains Lloyd.

If the songs that tell of Lloyd’s life have brought the people of his country together then that is what he considers a hit.