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
Akana Nkomo
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tha la la la la ungamlibali lomfana mama
Uzumgcine lomntana mama
Tha la la la la ungamlibali lomntana mama
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo
Sumosh'ixesha lakho
Lomfan'akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo
Xolis'iinkomo zakho lomfan'akanankomo
Sumosh'ixesha lakho
Lomfana akanankomo lomfana
Hayi bo!
La la la la la la la mama
Tha la la la la la mama
Ungamlibali lomfana mama
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Tha la la la la la mama
Oh la la la la la
Tha la la la
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo
Xolis'iinkomo zakho lomfan'akanankomo
Sumosh'ixesha lakho
Lomfana akanankomo lomfana
Oh akanankomo lomfana
Oh akanankomo lomfana
Akanankomo
Xolis'iinkomo zakho lomfan'akanankomo
Sumosh'ixesha lakho
Lomfan'akanankomo lomfana
Hayi tha la la la la la
Tha la la la la
Oh la la la la la la
Oh la la la la
Hmm ungamlibali lomntwana mama
Tha la la la la la uzumgcine lomntana
Oh, oh, oh, ungamthathi lomntana
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Zingqesha
Hmm uzumgcine lomntana mama
Tha la la la la la uzumlibale lomntana mama
Oh, oh, oh, ungamlibali lomntwana mama
Tha la la la la la uzumgcine lomntana mama
Oh, oh, oh, ungamlibali lomntwana mama
The song "Akana Nkomo" by Miriam Makeba is a call to mothers to protect their children. The lyrics are in Xhosa, a South African language, and they begin with the plea "Uzumgcine lomntana mama" which means "Mother, protect this child". Makeba implores mothers not to reveal their children’s inadequacies or vulnerability to others by singing "Tha la la la la ungamlibali lomfana mama" which means "Don’t expose this child's weak points." She goes on to emphasize the importance of protecting children from external threats, including "Akanankomo lomfana" which means "the bull will not get this boy".
Makeba then urges parents to accept responsibility for their own destiny and not to wait upon the help of others, "Xolis'iinkomo zakho lomfan'akanankomo, sumosh'ixesha lakho lomfan'akanankomo lomfana", which translates to "Forgive your cattle, young bull, take charge of your time, young bull". The phrase "akanankomo" is repeated throughout the song, and it is significant as it refers to both a bull and a challenge. Makeba uses this metaphor to highlight the difficulties that children may face in life, and she encourages them to overcome them.
Overall, the message in "Akana Nkomo" is one of hope and encouragement. Makeba's lyrics serve as a call to action for mothers, encouraging them to protect their children, and for young people to take charge of their futures and overcome any challenges that they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Uzumgcine lomntana mama
Please protect this child, Mother
Tha la la la la ungamlibali lomfana mama
Sing to him and don't forget him, Mother
Akanankomo lomfana
This boy is not a cow
Xolis'iinkomo zakho lomfan'akanankomo
Take care of your cows, young man
Sumosh'ixesha lakho
Stop wasting your time
Lomfan'akanankomo lomfana
This boy is not a cow
Hayi bo!
No way!
Zingqesha, hayi bo heh eh
Dance, no way!
Oh la la la la la
Oh la la la la la
Hmm ungamlibali lomntwana mama
Please don't forget this child, Mother
Oh, oh, oh, ungamthathi lomntana
Oh, oh, oh, don't take away this child
Hmm uzumgcine lomntana mama
Please protect this child, Mother
Tha la la la la la uzumlibale lomntana mama
Sing to him and don't forget him, Mother
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LETTA MBULU
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.