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
Down On the Corner
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over by the courthouse, starting to unwind
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up
Willy picks a tune out, he blows it on the harp
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo
You don't need a penny just to hang around
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down
Over on the corner there's a happy noise
People come from all around to watch the magic boys
Miriam Makeba's song "Down on the Corner" describes a scene in which four kids are playing music on the street corner. The song is set in the evening, just around supper time, and the kids are starting to unwind. Willy, one of the boys, picks out a tune on his harmonica. The music is lively and upbeat, and the lyrics suggest that the boys are trying to bring people's spirits up.
The chorus of the song goes, "Down on the corner, out in the street / Willy and the poor boys are playin' / Bring a nickel, tap your feet." The scene is one of joy and happiness, and people are enjoying the music. The kids are making music with whatever instruments they have, including a washboard, a gut bass, a Kalamazoo, and a kazoo.
The song does not have any deep or complex meanings. Instead, it tells a simple story of musicians playing on a street corner, bringing joy and happiness to those around them. It is a celebration of music and the power it has to lift people's spirits.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the evenin' just about supper time
As the night begins to fall and dinner time approaches
Over by the courthouse, starting to unwind
In the vicinity of the courthouse, people begin to relax after a long day
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up
Four young people on the street corner are trying to entertain and uplift you
Willy picks a tune out, he blows it on the harp
Willy plays a tune on his harmonica with skill and enthusiasm
Down on the corner, out in the street
On the street corner
Willy and the poor boys are playin'
Willy and his bandmates are performing music
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Come enjoy the music and rhythm for a small fee
Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile
As Rooster plays the washboard, people can't help but smile and feel happy
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while
Blinky plays the bass and performs a solo for some time
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo
A member of the band plays the Kalamazoo guitar to provide rhythm
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo
Willy starts dancing and also plays the kazoo simultaneously
You don't need a penny just to hang around
You can hang out and enjoy the music without spending any money
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down
If you have a small amount of money, you can contribute it to the band's performance
Over on the corner there's a happy noise
The music and atmosphere on the street corner are joyful and pleasant
People come from all around to watch the magic boys
Many people travel to the street corner to watch and listen to the talented musicians
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
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.