Lizzie Emeh: Google Doodle Celebrates an Award-winning Irish, Nigerian, and British Musician

Today’s Google Doodle honors the life and legacy of Lizzie Emeh, an award-winning Irish, Nigerian, and British musician and songwriter who was a champion for people with learning disabilities in the UK. Emeh was the first person in the UK with a learning disability to release an album of original songs. On this day in 2009, her debut album Loud and Proud was released.

25 Interesting Facts about Lizzie Emeh

1. Lizzie Emeh was a pioneering artist and composer who championed the rights of persons with learning disabilities in the UK.
2. She made history in 2009 with her debut album, Loud and Proud, being the first person with a learning disability to release an album of original songs in the UK.
3. On November 18, 2022, her single Warriors, from the upcoming album Listen to Lizzie, will be released posthumously.
4. Lizzie Emeh was born and raised in West London of Irish and Nigerian heritage. She was born with severe medical issues, and her parents were told she would never walk or talk. However, at the age of four, she proved the doctors incorrect and has since managed to defy the odds.
5. The artist was born in Notting Hill, West London, and her parents were told as a newborn that she would never walk or speak. Emeh had already surpassed those expectations by the age of four, a feat she would maintain throughout her life. She knew she wanted to pursue her passion for music as a career after growing up in a household that encouraged it.
6. Music was an important part of her childhood, and she began singing at the age of 10. Her professional career took off in 1999 when she joined Heart n Soul, a Deptford-based creative arts company that believes in the strength and talents of people with learning impairments and autism.
7. Lizzie performed with the Heart n Soul Company from 1999 to 2007 in a number of musical-theatre performances across Europe, including Heart n Soul Unplugged in Asia and Glastonbury Festival. She sang her own songs and told stories about life along the way. Meeting Nelson Mandela was a personal highlight for Lizzie during this time.
8. With the release of her debut album, Loud and Proud, in 2009, she set new standards. The album chronicled significant events in her life and included a variety of musical sounds from her London upbringing.
9. She praised the album as “eclectic, wide-ranging, and with lots of soul.” Lizzie does not read music, so she collaborated with the musicians in her own unique way to bring the songs to life.
10. She would hear the beat in her head first, followed by the lyrics, and then collaborate with musicians to create melodies and complete the songs.
11. For people with learning disabilities, the album served as a rallying call. She wanted to demonstrate to others what people with learning disabilities could accomplish and held the fervent belief that they have the right to be seen and heard.
12. Lizzie Emeh also sought to educate the non-disabled community and eliminate ignorance. She also utilized negative things about her and persons with learning disabilities to inspire new songs.
13. Lizzie received two national awards over her career for her contributions to music. She also became a role model for people with learning disabilities and encouraged several artists with learning disabilities to pursue careers in the music industry.
14. Lizzie’s career experienced many high points over the last ten years of her life. She did numerous UK tours and was invited to speak at a number of conferences and events to tell her story. These featured performances in 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.
15. Another highlight was playing with Beverley Knight at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in front of 80,000 people, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
16. Lizzie Emeh was also part of a ground-breaking research team at Wellcome Collection called Heart n Soul at the Hub, where they looked into learning disability and human value, envisaged an alternative, more inclusive future, and looked at ideals of caring and being cared for.
17. She also kept making music and collaborated with new musicians to take it in new directions. She began working on the follow-up to her debut album in 2015.
18. The album, titled See Me, is divided into a 3-part EP trilogy that explores her life experiences with love, relationships, family, and mental health.
19. Most recently, she continued to produce music throughout lockdown, charting her feelings and experiences with the pandemic, which was a particularly difficult period for her.
20. Lizzie leaves an amazing body of work and a remarkable legacy. She was an inspirational woman whose music had a profound impact on the lives of many people.
21. Her next album was a three-part EP trilogy called See Me. The three parts, titled The Clan, My Baboo, and Meds, focused on her relationships and mental health.
22. Lizzie Emeh’s posthumous album, “Listen to Lizzie,” was released in January 2023 and features a more reggae sound and themes of love and empowerment.
23. Emeh’s contributions to music have earned her multiple national awards, and her heartfelt recordings illuminate her legacy.
24. She is also known for advocating for the rights of persons with learning disabilities and encouraging more disabled people to enter the music profession. Lizzie Emeh, thank you for introducing the world to your stories and musical abilities!
25. On October 9, 2024, Google featured a Doodle on its homepage to celebrate Lizzie Emeh.