{{Short description|Zambian singer, songwriter and performer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Towela | image = Towela Kaira 04.jpg | caption = Towela Kaira in 2024 | birth_name = Towela Kaira | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|12|9|df=yes}} | birth_place = Lusaka, Zambia | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * Songwriter * Performer }} | years_active = 2019–present | children = 1 | relatives = {{plainlist| * Macky 2 (brother) * Chef 187 (brother) }} }}
'''Towela Kaira''' ({{IPAc-en|t|ə|ˈ|w|ɛ|l|ə| ˈ|k|aɪ|r|ə}} {{respell|tə|WEL|ə|KY|rə}}; born 9 December 1993) is a Zambian singer, songwriter, and performer,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service - This Is Africa, Zambia Ku Chalo: Part three |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72cn |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=pickwap |date=2023-02-22 |title=Towela Kaira – Baby {{!}} Pickwap Music |url=https://pickwap.net/towela-kaira-baby/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> professionally known mononymously as '''''Towela'''''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |date=2021-09-07 |title=Towela {{!}}{{!}} Biography |url=https://www.zambianmusicpromos.co/towela-biography/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Zambianmusicpromos}}</ref> She is noted for her emotive vocal delivery and versatility across Afro-fusion, R&B, and pop genres, and has emerged as one of the leading figures in Zambia’s contemporary music scene.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towela Kaira - Baby Mp3 Download - Zambianplay |url=https://zambianplay.com/towela-kaira-baby/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=zambianplay.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mwakamui |first=Namwaka |date=2021-08-14 |title=TOWELA KAIRA TAKES THE ZAMBIAN MUSIC SCENE BY STORM |url=https://tgzmag.com/towela-kaira-takes-the-zambian-music-scene-by-storm/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=The Global Zambian Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> In addition to her music career, she appeared in the television series ''Mungoma'', portraying the character Chichi. Towela has received widespread recognition, including the Kwacha Music Award for Best Female Artist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Towela Kaira Biography, Music Career, Family, Relationships and Net Worth |url=https://mdundo.com/news/31404 |access-date=July 24, 2025 |publisher=Mdundo}}</ref>
Kaira debuted professionally in 2019 with her single "Gold," gaining recognition for her distinct blend of melodic Afro-pop and contemporary R&B influences. Following her early success, she signed with Nexus Music Entertainment in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towela Kaira Lyrics, Biography and Albums {{!}} AfrikaLyrics |url=https://afrikalyrics.com/artist/towela-kaira |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Afrika Lyrics |language=en}}</ref> releasing singles such as "No Drama," "Delay," and "Lover," which received significant airplay and critical acclaim.<ref name=":0" /> Her collaborations with established Zambian artists, notably her brothers Macky 2 and Chef 187,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chileshe |first=Musonda |date=2020-01-13 |title=TOWELA KAIRA BLOWS WITH 'DELAY' |url=https://lusakastar.com/entertainment/towela-kaira-blows-with-delay |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Lusaka Star |language=en-US}}</ref> further boosted her profile and helped solidify her position in the music industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Macky 2, Chef 187 & Towela Kaira Thrill Zambia with First-ever Joint Performance ⚜ Latest music news online |url=https://mdundo.com/news/36095 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=mdundo.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Towela Kaira Biography |url=https://zambiaprofiles.com/towela-kaira-biography-career-education-songs-personal-life/ |access-date=July 24, 2025 |publisher=Zambia Profiles}}</ref> Her career was profiled on BBC’s ''This Is Africa'' in 2025, where she discussed her artistic identity and social challenges.”<ref name=":1" />
Outside music, Kaira has advocated for increased visibility and opportunities for women in entertainment, using her platform to inspire and empower emerging female artists in Zambia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towela, Esther, Pompi shine at Ngoma Awards as Yo Maps bags hattrick |url=https://diggers.news/lifestyle/2023/12/16/towela-esther-pompi-shine-at-ngoma-awards-as-yo-maps-bags-hattrick/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Zambia: News Diggers! |language=en-GB}}</ref> Her impact on the Zambian cultural landscape has been widely acknowledged, positioning her as a prominent figure in contemporary African music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Towela Kaira Biography, Music Career, Family and Relationships |url=https://www.facebook.com/kilamaid/posts/towela-kaira-biography-music-career-family-and-relationships-towela-kaira-was-bo/357510922576517 |access-date=July 24, 2025 |publisher=Facebook}}</ref>
== Discography == === Albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected information ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Notes |- ! scope="row" | ''Open Your Eyes'' | 2022 | Debut studio album |}
=== Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | "Gold" | 2019 | Debut single |- ! scope="row" | "One Day" (feat. Yo Maps) | 2019 | Collaboration single |- ! scope="row" | "Bon Appetit" (feat. Chef 187) | 2019 | Featured collaboration |- ! scope="row" | "Delay" (feat. Macky 2) | 2020 | Featured collaboration |- ! scope="row" | "Lover" | 2021 | Music video released |- ! scope="row" | "No Drama" | 2021 | |- ! scope="row" | "Dance to This" | 2021 | |- ! scope="row" | "Sticky" | 2024 | |- ! scope="row" | "Amina" | 2024 | |- ! scope="row" | "Zingati" (feat. BLOOD KID yvok, Xaven & Majoos)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towela Kaira {{!}} Zambia |url=https://www.afrocharts.com/artist?id=8ea236edf7 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Afrocharts |language=en}}</ref> | 2024 | Featured collaboration |- ! scope="row" | "Love or Lifestyle" | 2025 | |- ! scope="row" | "Love or Lifestyle (Remix)" | 2025 | Remix version |- ! scope="row" | "Pye Pye" | 2025 | |- ! scope="row" | "Nakuyewa" (feat. Jae Cash) | 2025 | Featured collaboration |}
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{IMDb name|16132032}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kaira, Towela}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Zambian women singers Category:People from Lusaka Category:21st-century Zambian women singers Category:Zambian pop singers Category:Afrobeat musicians