Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond di… Read Full Bio ↴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. 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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The Complete 1950's Masters - Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Baby Ntsoare Baby baby ntshware, ntshware ka ditsebe Baby baby ntshware, …
Back of the Moon Like a ping pong ball down a mountain stream Like paper…
Can't Cross Over The river come down The river come down River come down I ca…
Darlie Kee Leung O darlie ke ya le mang (Darlie ke ya le…
Do Unto Others Brothers and sisters Hmm What the bible says is true Hmm We …
Ekoneni Ndibangahamba bandijongile Ndibangahamba bandijongile Ekonen…
Holilili Ngeny'imini ekuseni (Emakhayeni) Ndandifike eBhongweni (Emak…
House of the Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising…
Hush Thula, thula mama thula Thula mama thula Thula mama thula T…
Inkomo Zodwa Ubuhle bendoda ziinkomo zodwa Ntombazana Ubuhle bendoda ziin…
Ishayisa Mfana Uhlez'uphuz'utshwala nje ngifun'imali yami Uhlez'uphuz'utshw…
Iya Guduza Iyaguduz'indod'isele yodw'endlini Iyaguduz'indod'umfaz'usesi…
Kilimanjaro Mama eh Mama eh Mama ndiyavuya mna Mama ndiyavuya mna Hayi …
Kutheni Sithandwa Kutheni sithandwa Undijonga undigqitha nje? Kutheni sithandw…
Laku Tshone 'ilanga Lakutshon'ilanga Zakubuy'inkomo Ndakucinga ngawe Lakutshon'i…
Live Humble Live a-humble, live humble Humble, live humble Humble, yours…
Love Tastes Like Strawberries Love, it sparks like pinwheels playing Love is soft like tea…
Make Us One We've come form far away places, tot he golden city We've…
Makoti Igin madod'iyabulala Igin madod'iyabulala Igin madod'iyabula…
Miriam's Goodbye to Africa Goodbye Mother Goodbye Father And to you my little baby Good…
Mtshakazi Andisoze ndiy'ekwendeni Ndoyik'iilokhw'ezinde (Awu helele) A…
Nagula Maye bajabula bonk'uma ngilele phansi bo Jiya woh hom hmm He…
Ndamcenga Ndithe ndidlala nomntan'omncikane (Thula) Wasuka walila wats…
Ndidliwe Zintabe Ndalishiya ikhaya Ndashiya nabazali Ndalishiya ikhaya Ndashi…
Ndimbone Dluca Ndimbonil'edlul'izolo weh ma Ndimbonil'edlul'izolo weh ma Nd…
Ndixolele Sithandwa uzandixolela na? Kwezomposo endazenzayo mna? Nxa n…
Ngicela Indlela Iph'indlela? (Haya yaya) Iph'indlela? (Hayaya) Iph'indlela? …
Night Must Fall Night must fall And stars must shine Let them shine no more…
Nomalungelo Akatyebang'uNomalungelo inkab'itshonile (Mna ndinohambo) Aka…
Nomeva Uyint'okwenzani? Umbi kangaka? Ndizakwenzani umbi kangaka? …
Ntjilo Ntjilo Ndav'ilizwi kwelotyholo Ndakhangela ndasondela Lalisitsho li…
One More Dance Darling, go home Your husband is ill Is he ill? Let them giv…
Orlando Kwasekusuk'amaphepha Bathi masisuk'eGoli Kwasekusuk'amapheph…
Owakho Owakho, owakho wawushiya nobani? Uhamb'uzungez'imizi yamadod…
Pata Pata Saguquka sathi bheka (Nants'iPata Pata) Saguquka sathi bheka…
Phansi Kwalomhlaba Phansi kwalomhlaba zants'emgodini Kufel'amawakawaka abantu O…
Pula Kgosi Seretse Re re pula go uena Kgosi Seretse Re itumela thata go…
Quickly in Love Just a second or two The first sight of you That's the…
Saduva Andisafuni ukuhamba Ukuhamba netshomi zam Andisafuni mna uku…
Siyavuya Ah jabulani nonke Ah jabulani nonke Usefikile umakoti wethu …
Sophiatown Is Gone The birds are gone The streets look sad and dry Old Sophia…
Spokes Phata Phata Sondela sithandane Ngaliwe yintombi yami Sondela sithandane …
Suliram Suliram, suliram, ram, ram Suliram yang manis Adu hai indu…
Thanayi Thu lu lu lu lu Hayi tha la la la Iye mama…
The Click Song Igqira lendlela nguqo ngqothwane Igqira lendlela (kuthwa) n…
The Naughty Little Flea Where did the naughty little flea go Nobody know, nobody kn…
The Retreat Song Intonga zamakhwenkwe Zophukel'emlanjeni wo hom Xa kubethw'in…
Themba Lami Woza sithandwa siy'emakhaya Siyohlala sobabini Woza sithandw…
Tula Ndiville Andisafuni ukuhamba Ukuhamba netshomi zam Andisafuni ukuzula…
Uile Ngoan'a Batho Ka pina ena ke tla e binang ka tsatsi lena…
Umquokozo Hmmm Hmmm helele le le mama heh Hmmm ha la la la…
Unyana Wolahleko Bawo ndiyazithoba Ndithi ndixolele Ndikonile ngokudela imith…
Uthando Luyaphela Dal'uzohamba Dal'uzobuya Dal'uzohamba ud'ubuye Dal'uzohamba…
Uyadela Uyadel'uyadela mama Uyadela ngob'uthand'ukwenzela lo Uyadel'…
Vula Amasango Vulan'amasango Sesifikile nomakoti Siyangena Khanivul'esangw…
Where Does It Lead? Where does it lead? This strange young love of mine Only hea…
Yini Madoda Tyhini madoda niqonde ni? Xa ningasayi emakhaya Iintsapho ze…
Zenizenabo Zenize nabo magwala Mabhongo, mabhong'entliziyo Zenize nabo …
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.