Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond dispute one of South Africa's true legends. Born March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, Miriam Makeba was barely 21 years old when she, as a member of the Manhattan Brothers, reached for the stars in her home country. It didn't take long before Miriam Makeba's career was brought to another level. In 1966 she received a Grammy Award for the album An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba, making her the first African artist to win a Grammy. Read Full BioZenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond dispute one of South Africa's true legends. Born March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, Miriam Makeba was barely 21 years old when she, as a member of the Manhattan Brothers, reached for the stars in her home country. It didn't take long before Miriam Makeba's career was brought to another level. In 1966 she received a Grammy Award for the album An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba, making her the first African artist to win a Grammy. Her star rose further when she released her 1967 globally acclaimed Pata Pata, including the worldwide hit "Qongqothwane" (better known as the 'Click Song'). Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography .
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
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
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Miriam Makeba Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Miriam Makeba:
'Cause We Live for Love The morning sun shines full of laughter Waking up, all walks…
A Luta Continua My people, my people open your eyes And answer the call…
A Piece Of Ground When the white man first came here from over the…
Africa 'Ngeke ngiye kwaZulu Kwafel' ubaba 'Ngeke ngiye kwaZulu Kwaf…
Africa Is Where My Heart Lies A picturesque sunset lights up the sky A magical moment of…
African Sunset Ilanga lishonile Bafana mazibuye izinkomo zobaba Ilanga los…
Amaliya Somehow in the way Like a footstep in the snow…
Baxabene Oxamu Baxabene oxamu Bexabene ngengxongxo Bexakwe yinxu baxaka …
Beware Verwoerd! Pasopa Nantsi ndodemnyama, Verwoerd! Pasopa Nantsi ndodemnya…
Can't Cross Over The river come down The river come down River come down I ca…
Chove Chuva Chove Chuva Chove sem parar...(2x) Pois eu vou fazer uma…
Chove-Chuva Chove chuva Chove sem parar Chove chuva Chove sem parar Poi…
Click Song Igqira lendlela ngu qongqothwane Igqira lendlela kuthwa ngu …
Click Song Number 1 Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane Igqirha lendlela nguqongqot…
Djiu De Galinha Djiu Di Galiña Djiu Di Galiña , Ai Djiu Di Galiña…
Down On the Corner Early in the evenin' just about supper time Over by…
Emabhaceni The rain has moved on And left a new day Nothing seems…
For What It There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly …
For What It's Worth There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly cl…
Forbidden Games Though it's forbidden for my arms to hold you And though…
Ha Po Zamani Hapo zamani, sikuya (sikuwa) hivi, Hapo zamani, shauri ya po…
Hapo Zamani Hapo zamani, sikuya (sikuwa) hivi, Hapo zamani, shauri ya p…
Hauteng Gauteng Gauteng kgotsanyana tsaka di feletse teng Hauteng ha…
House of the Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the…
Hurry Mama Hurry! Khawuleza mama Khawuleza mama Khawuleza mama Nank’ amap…
I La la la la la la la la la La la…
In My Life There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have…
Isangoma Sangoma yoh Ey yeh Ey yeh isangoma yoh Yeah yeah yeah yeah …
Lakutshn Ilanga You tell such lovely lies With your two lovely eyes When I…
Lindelani My Lindelani Listen to the bird song You? ll hear the…
Live Humble Live a-humble, live humble Humble, live humble Humble, yours…
Make Us One We've come form far away places, tot he golden city We've…
Malaika Malaika, nakupenda Malaika Malaika, nakupenda Malaika Ningek…
Mama Leading the struggle with nothing in your hands Can bring co…
Mas Que Nada O ariá raió Obá obá obá O ariá raió Obá obá obá O ariá…
Mbube Njalo Ekuseni Uya Waletha Amathamsanqa Yebo! Amathamsanqa …
Meet Me at the River Meet me at the river When the water fall Caresses rocks on…
Ndibanga Hamba Rindu ini begitu dalam Menembus relung hati Rindu ini tak te…
Ntyilo Ntyilo The rain has moved on And left a new day Nothing seems…
Olilili Nom Nom cake is gud, please give meh cake…
One More Dance Darling, go home, your husband is ill. Is he ill?…
Pata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bhe…
Pata Pata (live) Saguquga sathi bega nantsi Pata Pata Saguquga sathi bega nan…
Pata Pata (Original Version 1 Saguquga sathi bega nantsi Pata Pata Saguquga sathi bega na…
Pata Pata 2000 Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bhe…
Pata, Pata Saguquga sathi bega nantsi Pata Pata Saguquga sathi bega nan…
Phata Phata Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata Sat wuguga…
Pole Mze Pole(pole mzee), Pole(pole mzee), Pole(pole mzee), kwa kufun…
Quickly in Love I love the sound of robins in springtime The song so…
Quit It You take drugs to psych your mind You take wine to…
Ring Bell If I could be a shimmering star I'd shine now, shine…
Ring Bell Ring Bell If I could be a shimmering star I'd shine now, shine…
Sabelani Sabelani (Sabelani ma) (2x) Sabelani Sabelani (Sabelani ma…
Soweto Blues The children got a letter from the master It said:…
Suliram Suliram, suliram, ram, ram Suliram yang manis Adu hai indu…
The Click Song Igqira lendlela ngu qongqothwane Igqira lendlela kuthwa ngu …
The Naughty Little Flea Where did the naughty little flea go Nobody know, nobody kn…
Thulasizwe Traditional THULASIZWE UNGABOKHALA You JEHOVA WAKHO UZOKUNQ…
To Those We Love Bahleli bonke etilongweni Bahleli bonke kwaNongqongqo x2 …
To Those We Love (Nongqongqo) Bahleli bonke etilongweni Bahleli bonke kwaNongqongqo x2 He…
What Is Love In this world where people are restless Wondering where to t…
Where Does It Lead Where does it lead this stranger love of mind? Only heaven…
Where Does It Lead ? Where does it lead this stranger love of mind? Only heaven…
The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below, by filtering for lyric videos or browsing the comments in the different videos below.
onikankrumah
Africa! Viva Mama Africa
Diane Kerrison
I love this song. Such deep connection to the land & such an amazing voice!
SuperDopeboy44
I'm 18 and from south sudan and I listen to this every day
yiehom
Merci mingi, Mama !
Beatrice Nkundwa
I liked the slogan water is life.