Miriam Makeba used her voice to entertain, but also to give a voice to millions of oppressed fellow South Africans who suffered as a result of apartheid. The price she had to pay for her actions was high, namely her South African citizenship. After she appeared, in 1960, in the an anti-apartheid documentary Come Back, Africa, the South African regime banned her from returning to her home country and took away her citizenship.
This event didn't stop her from continuing to raise her voice against the apartheid regime. Between 1964 and 1975, as a United Nations delegate of Guinea where she was granted asylum, Miriam Makeba addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations regularly on the tragic developments in South Africa.
Meanwhile she carried on singing, a process in which she put South African music on the map. Over the years Makeba worked with artists as Joe Sample, Stix Hooper, Arthur Adams, and David T. Walker of The Crusaders. In the late 1980's she joined Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo during their world-wide Graceland tour and in 1990 she worked with Odetta and Nina Simone for the One Nation tour.
Following Nelson Mandela's release from prison, the citizen of the world Makeba returned to South Africa in December 1990; more than thirty years after she went in exile. In April 1991 she performed her first concert in her homeland in three decades.
The years after were busy ones for Makeba. She starred in the South African award-winning musical Sarafina! , about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, playing the role of the title character's mother. She then reunited with her first husband, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, for the Tour Of Hope. She also performed at the Vatican's Nevi Hall during the world-wide broadcasted show, Christmas In The Vatican. In 2000 Makeba released the grammy-nominated Homeland, her first studio album in a decade. In 2002 she shared the Polar Music Prize with Sofia Gubaidulina, in recognition of her exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music.
After her return to South Africa Miriam Makeba recorded over ten albums. In 2004, at the age of 72, she relased Reflections honoring the tenth anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa. In that same year Makeba was voted 38th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. She also started a 14 month worldwide farwell tour in 2005, holding concerts in all countries she had visited during her life.
With an impressive career spanning more than four decades Miriam Makeba is, indeed, one of the most respected, loved and cherished treasures in (South) Africa.
On the early morning of 10th of November 2008 she died at the age of 76 after being taken ill near the southern Italian town of Caserta, after performing at a concert against organized crime.
Source: Miriam Makeba, A true South African musical Legend
Discography on last.fm
External links:
Official website
Unofficial website
Movie database
Mbube
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeh hay hay hay hay hay
Kutheni ngath'andiva kahle nje mfowethu?
Yintoni ngathi niyanxila nje?
Kanti walal'emini sodliw'amathamsanqa mama
Yeh hay hay hay hay hay
Woya
Yiyo helele uyimbube mama bo
Helele, helele
Ndanxila bo (Mbube hah)
Ndazula mna (Uyimbube hay)
Ndanxila (Uyimbube hay)
Helele mama (Uyimbube hay)
Ndanxila bo (Mbube hah)
Ndazula mna (Uyimbube hay)
Ndanxila (Uyimbube hay)
Helele mama (Uyimbube hay)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Helele, helele, helele)
Bathi uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Ndazula mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Helele, helele, helele)
Bathi uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Yiyo heh welele)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Yiyo heh welele)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Ngazula mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Hey, hey, hey)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Hey, hey, hey)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi (Uyimbube)
Hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi (Uyimbube)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Ndazula mama (Uyimbube)
Hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi (Uyimbube)
Hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi (Uyimbube)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Ndithi ndakuthetha mna (Uyimbube)
Kwasuka kwanxila amadoda bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Ndithi ndakuthetha mna (Uyimbube)
Kwasuka kwanxila amadoda bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Hey, hey, hey)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Helele, helele, helele)
Bathi uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Yi, yi, yi, yi)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Yi, yi, yi, yi)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Walal'emini sodliw'amathamsanqa mama
Yiza!
Yeh hay hay hay hay hay
The song "Mbube" by Miriam Makeba is a timeless classic that speaks to the African culture and the struggles of the people. The title "Mbube" means lion in Zulu and the lyrics of the song tell the story of a lion in search of its prey. The song starts with the singer asking why she is feeling so low, even though she is not being attacked. The answer to this, according to the song, lies in the lion that is stalking her. The singer then goes on to describe the power and ferocity of the lion and finally calls out to it to come forth.
The song is more than just the story of a lion. It is a political statement on the oppression of the African people by colonial powers. The use of the lion metaphor is a reference to the Africans as a powerful and proud people who are being hunted by the colonial powers. The call of the singer to the lion represents the African people's desire to fight back against their oppressors and reclaim their pride and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Walal'emini sodliw'amathamsanqa mama
In the middle of the night, when all is silent mama
Yeh hay hay hay hay hay
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Kutheni ngath'andiva kahle nje mfowethu?
Why do I hear you so clearly my brother?
Yintoni ngathi niyanxila nje?
What is it that you are asking me?
Kanti walal'emini sodliw'amathamsanqa mama
In the middle of the night, when all is silent mama
Woya
Come here
Yiyo helele uyimbube mama bo
That's the lion roaring, mama
Helele, helele
Roaring, roaring
Ndanxila bo (Mbube hah)
I am creeping closer (the lion has come)
Ndazula mna (Uyimbube hay)
I can hear it clearly (The lion is roaring)
Ndanxila (Uyimbube hay)
I am creeping closer (The lion is roaring)
Helele mama (Uyimbube hay)
Roaring, Mama (The lion is roaring)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Helele, helele, helele)
The lion roars (Roaring, roaring, roaring)
Bathi uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
They say it’s a lion, mama
Ndazula mama (Uyimbube)
I can hear mom (It is a lion)
Ngazula mama (Uyimbube)
I‘m going closer, mom (It is a lion)
Uyimbube mama bo (Uyimbube)
It is a lion, mama
Hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi, hayi (Uyimbube)
No, no, no, no, no, no (It's a lion)
Ndithi ndakuthetha mna (Uyimbube)
I tell you, I was talking (about a lion)
Kwasuka kwanxila amadoda bo (Uyimbube)
Suddenly, men started screaming (It's a lion)
Mbube ha uyimbube (Yi, yi, yi, yi)
The lion roars (Yi, yi, yi, yi)
Helele mama (Uyimbube)
Roaring, Mama (It is a lion)
Walal'emini sodliw'amathamsanqa mama
In the middle of the night, when all is silent mama
Yiza!
Come here!
Yeh hay hay hay hay hay
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Solomon Linda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mfundo Piti
on To Those We Love (Nongqongqo)
At the time the song was composed and released all the people mentioned ((Mangaliso) Sobukhwe, (Albert) Luthuli, (Nelson) Mandela, and (Walter) Sisulu were alive. While the three were in prison at Robben Island, Luthuli was not in prison, hence the question to Luthuli asking what "will you do?". Luthuli was the president of the banned African National Congress (ANC). Sobukhwe the president of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Mandela and Sisulu occupied executive leadership positions within the ANC at the time of their sentencing to serve life sentences in prison (1964). The same question is asked to all Africans.
Mfundo Piti
on To Those We Love (Nongqongqo)
The lyrics of "To Those We Love" by Miriam Makeba are about the struggles, sacrifices, and resilience of great African leaders who fought for freedom, justice, and equality. The repetitive chorus, "Bahleli bonke entilongweni, Bahleli bonke kwaNongqongqo" refers to how all these leaders, including Sobukwe, Luthuli, Mandela, and Sisulu, are resting in peace or buried in their respective homes. The verses pose questions about their legacy and the continuation of their work, asking "Why, Baba Luthuli? What will you do?" and "What will happen to us, MaAfrica?" These questions are a call to action for listeners to carry on the struggle for freedom and justice.
Junior
on Soweto Blues
The melancholy in her voice
Junior
on Mama
It makes me cry I could not bury my mother cause I was in prison when I ask prison authorities to allow me an opportunity to go and attend the funeral they refused. We always underestimate the role of women
no
on Beware, Verwoerd! (Ndodemnyama)
no
hi! i enjoted. this song. i loved it
Matt Olomu
on Noweva
This is your challenge, South Africans who understand the lyrics of NOWEVER. Do yourselves and Africa a favour. Interpret it.