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
She is also part mexican. Her mother is mixed with Mexican, and African American. Her Father was of Cape Verdean decent, I think he was half, or full blood cape verdean. I met her sister in the mall, she told me. Her mother is very light skin. Lisa had Portugues, Black American, and Mexican ancestry.
question… why do people class her as latina?
she’s not from latin america
Mainly her surname ‘Lopes’, correctly or wrongly. Also, going by the above description, she has Portuguese heritage via Cape Verde who were colonized by Europeans some time back. Latin culture roots are originally European in nature (France, Italy (Romans), Spain and Portuguese…and so many others).
Well I’m Cape Verdean and I’m glad there was Famous Cape Verdean Actress/Actors , Singers , Dancer (etc.) but I love Lisa Lopes. She’s beautiful R.I.P Lisa Left Eye Lopes.
Im cape verdean..Cape Verde is part of wet africa,it consists of 10 islands, only a few are habitable. Most cape verdeans are light to medium skin,wit curly hair,a lot of us have light eyes. Some cape verdeans can be very light and even look white, and some are very dark, look straight african. The biggest population of cape verdeans is in Massachusetts and rhode island.
Shes west african w a little bit of mexican…i actually met her cousin who cleared that up for me. Ses mostly black, her father being half cape verdian, and african american, her mother is only 1/8 mexican ….
so is she honduran or cape verdean?
and does she have spanish or portuguese ancestry?
@ Kathleen…I thought she was Honduran too?? I guess she has African and Portuguese ancestry.
She has Cape Verdean and African-American ancestry…my name is Jackson (which is a Irish-Scot name) but I am %100 African-American. Just because my name is Jackson doesn’t mean I’m Irish or related to Michael (lol). She is of West African (Cape Verdean descent)…and died while in the Honduras. She’s not Hondurian but happened to died there. It’s like the famous Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora (a Spanish sounding name) but she is West African….
Chi baby your jus a tidbit confused baby!!!! U tell us that u are 100 percent African-American right? Well the first part you got right for your identity but the later half American suggest another piece missing from the equation!!! lol! I know they have confused you over the years but the likelyhood that you are 100 percent African living in America is more laughter than my stomach can handle at this time! Awwh except the fact love that you are watered down!!!! NON OF THIS 100 PERCENT AFRICAN STUFF YOU SOUND RIDICULOUS HON! IF THEY DROPPED YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF AFRICA YOU WOULDN”T BE ABLE TO SAY CAN I HAVE SOME WATER PLEASE IT’S HOT AS HELL???? Oh and I must say this is in no way a disrespect to the original Africans as they are smart people with tremendous talent!!!!! You belong to a portion of this culture not 100 percent and thats the way it is!
African-American is an ethnicity for a reason. I don’t think it is supposed to imply that you are a 100% African, or else they wouldn’t have to establish the ethnicity in the first place.