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
Click Song #2
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Hayi ke legqi iqheya ke laxing'eqhingeni
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya ke laxing'eqhingeni
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude bo
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Oham ogram
Hoya holala hoham halaham
The lyrics of Miriam Makeba's "Click Song #2" are in the Xhosa language and the song is characterized by a unique clicking sound, a prominent feature in many South African languages. The song seems to be a celebration of Xhosa culture and traditions as it refers to various cultural elements. In the first verse, the lyrics say "Baxabene ooxam, bexabene ngengxoxo, bexakwe yingxubaxaka," which means that people are gathering to dance and sing, and they are wearing their traditional attire.
The second verse speaks of a woman carrying a load of firewood on her head and walking through hills and valleys. She is headed to her mother's house, where she will prepare food for her family. The song then repeats the first and second verses, emphasizing the joy and celebration of Xhosa culture.
Overall, the song seems to be a tribute to Xhosa traditions and the people who uphold them. It paints a vivid picture of their rural lifestyle, their love for music, and their close-knit family ties.
Line by Line Meaning
Baxabene ooxam
Women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Coming together in clusters
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Oh, women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Coming together in clusters
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance in the dirt
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Mama said it's dirty and dusty
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance in the dirt
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Mama said it's dirty and dusty
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Oh, women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Coming together in clusters
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Oh, women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Coming together in clusters
Hayi ke legqi iqheya ke laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance without shoes
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Mama said it's dusty without shoes
Hayi ke legqi iqheya ke laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance without shoes
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Mama said it's dusty without shoes
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance in the dirt
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude bo
Mama said it's dirty and dusty
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
No, don't dance in the dirt
Hayi beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Mama said it's dirty and dusty
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Oh, women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Coming together in clusters
Hayi baxabene ooxam
Oh, women of the villages
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Who are like doves
Oham ogram
Make a clicking sound
Hoya holala hoham halaham
Make a sound of excitement and joy
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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.