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Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
SEVEN-time Grammy Award winner, Toni Braxton, who, a few years ago was diagnosed of lupus, a deadly autoimmune disorder that attacks her heart and other body parts, says the condition, which at one point threatened her career, will not bring her down.

While performing for the first time in Africa at the Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare on Friday, the pop diva, who was forced to take a break from the music industry after doctors advised her not to perform because of the disease, said she was glad to be in Africa, especially considering that she once lost her passion for music.

With encouragement from her family and musical husband Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, who is with her for the ongoing Africa Tour, Braxton decided to fight the disease by managing it with medication, thereby continuing with her career which spans over 20 years.

“It was a sad moment, I was really going to retire but friends of mine came to my rescue and told me it’s not time. God had other plans for me as the doctor had said I wasn’t going to be able to perform again,” Braxton said.

“So many people said ‘you can’t, it’s not time. Kenny Babyface and other friends helped me a lot as they said they needed to get me out of this phase.”

Since the lupus diagnosis, Braxton has adopted more heart-healthy habits, following a metabolism-revving diet, exercising daily and doing gentle workouts.

She had earlier told the American media: “Music is my life force, it’s how I breathe. I think I forgot to enjoy it. Sometimes God gives you gifts and you forget that they’re gifts and you take them for granted. I definitely think I did that in the past.”

And true to her word, Braxton is not down and out as her performance on Friday was world-class, showing just why she was a seven-time Grammy Award winner.

Accompanied by her two sisters, Towanda and Trina who feature on reality series – Braxton Family Values, the diva delivered a top-drawer performance with her flawless body leaving many men in awe.

Babyface was a hit among the female revellers especially when he left the stage to dance and sing with some in the VVIP section. All that could be heard were screams as the chosen women were star struck.

Braxton had the men’s backs as she invited about eight of them on stage to also dance with her. They received hugs afterwards. One lucky couple was invited to celebrate their anniversary and show their affection on stage while she performed hit, Another sad love song.

To round up the concert, Babyface joined Braxton to perform their old and new hits from Love, Marriage and Divorce, an album which Braxton says was the best thing she had done in seven years.

The two artistes are now in South Africa for shows in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Durban concert was held on Sunday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.