Celebrated pop star and musician Cyria Tshipetane, better known as Cyria The Community, is fast becoming a household name in the music industry and a beacon of hope for the younger generation of fans. She embraces opportunities as they come, and in one of her latest ventures, she has opened a food stall in Louis Trichardt.
Tshipetane's journey has not been without its ups and downs. The girl from Hamutsha, outside Louis Trichardt, struggled academically in high school but persevered until she passed her Grade 12. She then enrolled at Vhembe TVET College, but once again, she found it challenging to cope with the academic demands. However, this did not deter her in her quest for success.
After dropping out of college, she started selling snacks at the local Mutsha Primary School. By chance, she became a celebrated comedian, making an almost immediate impact in the entertainment industry. As if that was not enough, Cyria launched her singing career in 2020. She released her first album, Madekudeku, which became an instant hit.
She went on to release two more albums and several singles under her name.
In 2023, she stunned many long-established musicians when her song Mapholisa was voted Phalaphala FM's Song of the Year. A year later, her song Magumbagumba was voted number three in the 2024 Phalaphala FM Song of the Year rankings.
Despite her success in music and her hectic schedule, she has taken on another challenge by opening a food stall, Cyria's Kitchen, at the Louis Trichardt taxi rank. The stall caters to all tastes, offering traditional dishes such as Mopani worms, tripe, beef, cow heels, and chicken. Her clientele includes ordinary passersby, regular customers, celebrities, and government employees. This new business venture has sparked rumours that the pop star has quit music.
"It is not true that I have quit music. I just love business, and I survived by selling snacks at school before venturing into music. This is a passion I cannot run away from—it's my side hustle. People should not be misled into thinking I have quit music. The truth is one should not rely on a single source of income. I still perform at gigs while also running my business. I have two trusted employees who take care of the business while I am away," she said.
According to Cyria, her entrepreneurial spirit is meant to inspire young people to create jobs for themselves.
"To the youth, I say: grab any opportunity as long as it allows you to make an income, just as I am doing. In music, I still have a lot to offer. My fans should brace themselves for a brand-new Cyria with a new fashion style and a new album dropping in March 2025," she said.