Lisa Lopes
Lisa Lopes (right) with Rozonda Thomas and Tionne Watkins in 1995, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Lisa Nicole Lopes
Date of Birth: May 27, 1971
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: April 25, 2002
Place of Death: La Ceiba, Honduras
Ethnicity: African-American, one eighth African-Cape Verdean, one eighth Spanish [Asturian]
Lisa Lopes, known as Left Eye and N.I.N.A., was an American hip hop singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. She was a member of R&B/hip hop girl-group TLC, until her death, with Rozonda Thomas (Chilli) and Tionne Watkins, and, originally, co-founder Crystal Jones. The group was managed by Perri “Pebbles” Reid.
Lisa was the daughter of Wanda Denise (Andino) Coleman and Ronald Eugene Lopes. Her surname, Lopes, is Portuguese, though she may not have had Portuguese ancestry. Lisa and her bandmate Tionne Watkins were cousins through marriage. Lisa’s mother was married to Tionne’s uncle. Lisa had two adopted children.
Lisa’s ancestry was African-American, one eighth Cape Verdean, and one eighth Spanish. Most of the population (about 71%) of Cape Verde is a mix of Sub-Saharan African and European, usually from Portugal and Spain.
Lisa’s paternal grandfather was Charles “Charlie” Lopes (the son of Emanuel/Manuel Lopes and Almira/Alma/Annie Smith). Charles was born in North Carolina. Emanuel likely was born on Cape Verde, and was the son of Charlie Lopes and Lenora. Almira was the daughter of Robert Smith and Hattie Taylor.
Lisa’s paternal grandmother was Gladys Bea/Beatrice Bailey (the daughter of Dennis Gordon and Regenia Bailey). Gladys was born in South Carolina, and was African-American.
Lisa’s maternal grandfather was Jose A. Andino (the son of Jose Andino Andion and The Rev. Helen B. Hewlett, born Helen Bernice Blackston). Lisa’s grandfather Jose was born in Pennsylvania. Lisa’s great-grandfather Jose was born in Asturias, Spain. The Rev. Helen was the daughter of Howard Blackston and Anna Mae Jones, who were African-American.
Lisa’s maternal grandmother was named Lillie.
Sources: https://www.youtube.com
https://www.youtube.com
http://urbanbridgez.com
https://mobile.twitter.com
Death record of Lisa’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Lisa’s paternal grandfather, Charles “Charlie” Lopes, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Lisa’s paternal great-grandfather, Emanuel/Manuel Lopes – https://www.familysearch.org
Lisa’s paternal great-grandmother, Almira/Alma/Annie Smith, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Lisa’s paternal great-grandmother, Almira/Alma/Annie (Smith) Lopes Harris – https://www.familysearch.org
Lisa Lopes is Honduran, she stated it herself in her documentary that aired on MTV often after she died. However, I do not know if she was only part Honduran and mixed with Cape Verdan, but I do know her father was Honduran.
She’s hondurianan all of you people claiming to be her cousin must be lying. Just watch her documentary, it’s stated there.
Wronggggggg lisaaa left eye lopes is not cape verdian I know her sister reign drop they are definately hondurian…and u look at the last documentary that left eye made also she madeee a videooo saying that’s where her family is frommmm..getchaaa facts straightttt.. and I’m cape verdian and wee aren’t spanish we actually dislike being compared to the spanish race we come in light skin and dark …we are africannnn that’s wht we put on job applications lol… does “modi busta” sound spanish to u? Nahhh its afroo portuguese
Dear wronggggg
Are you Cape Verdean? please check the spelling of the race in your comment………..
Do you also think the group “Tavares” is from the Honduras?They also make the es @ the end of their name sound like a z.
Also I believe the “how are you?” is “como di bou esta.” Modi busta is not correct.
In research you will find that after Cape Verde’s independence from Portugal in 1975, they changed some of the creolu letters to sound more African, example: creolu before 1975 and Kriolu after 1975. The creolu language evolved from the portuguese language. It was neither taught nor written in school. The (fortunate) natives that attended school were taught to speak and to read Portuguese. At home they spoke creolu which is similar to ebonics.LOL it is a lazy slang :)
By the way I can only speak for Lisa’s paternal side.
Thanks for listening.
modi bu sta is used too. Como qui bu sta? This is correct.
it is not busta, but bu sta, meaning you are/is For example, como qui bu sta?: how are you?
does that mean she is hispanic
No, Cape Verde is part of Africa and they speak Portuguese, so she could have Portuguese ancestry.
she was a amazing rapper and she set the record for many female rappers.