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
Hauteng
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gauteng kgotsanyana tsaka di feletse teng
Hauteng hauteng hauteng hauteng
Utlwang dillo tsa bana ba rona ba shwetseng komponeng
Bana ba rona bashwetseng komponeng
Hauteng x4
Ba tshika tiamane gauta
Majwe ruwo la heso
Bonang tshaba sa heso
Makgoba re fetutswe
Bonang fatsheng labo ntata rona
Madi a arona phalala
Maatla arona a hudisa
Ba di tshabeng ... Ba mose
Rona re feletse mona hauteng
Rona re feletse mona komponeng
Hauteng hauteng hauteng hauteng mona hauteng
The song "Hauteng" by Miriam Makeba is an ode to the Gauteng province in South Africa, which is the country's economic hub and the seat of its government. The opening lines of the song, "Gauteng, Gauteng kgotsanyana tsaka di feletse teng," translate to "Gauteng, Gauteng small lights, everything happens there," implying that the province is always abuzz with activity and energy. The chorus, "Hauteng, hauteng, hauteng, hauteng," repeats multiple times, emphasizing the importance and significance of Gauteng.
In the following lines, Makeba sings about the sounds of children playing in the streets, specifically "dillo tsa bana ba rona ba shwetseng komponeng," which translates to "the sounds of our children playing in the compounds." She then mentions some of the struggles that people in Gauteng might face, including poverty ("Majwe ruwo la heso"), violence ("tshaba sa heso"), and corruption ("Madi a arona phalala"). But despite these challenges, the people of Gauteng are strong and resilient, with "maatla arona a hudisa" or "their strength never diminishing."
The final lines of the song, "Rona re feletse mona hauteng, rona re feletse mona komponeng, hauteng hauteng hauteng hauteng mona hauteng," essentially mean "We are happy here in Gauteng, we are happy in the compounds, Gauteng, Gauteng, Gauteng, here in Gauteng." Makeba's use of repetition and simple, repetitive phrases in the chorus and throughout the song give it a sense of community and unity, as if everyone in Gauteng is singing and celebrating together.
Line by Line Meaning
Gauteng
Greetings to Gauteng province
Gauteng kgotsanyana tsaka di feletse teng
Hello Gauteng, my little sister is struggling there
Hauteng hauteng hauteng hauteng
Repeated greeting to the province of Gauteng
Utlwang dillo tsa bana ba rona ba shwetseng komponeng
Listen to the cries of our children who are suffering in the townships
Bana ba rona bashwetseng komponeng
Our children are suffering in the townships
Hauteng x4
Repeated greeting to the province of Gauteng
Bonang banna ba rona
Greetings to our brothers
Ba tshika tiamane gauta
They are working hard in the mines
Majwe ruwo la heso
Their sweat remains in the mines
Bonang tshaba sa heso
Greetings to their families left behind
Makgoba re fetutswe
We have been chosen for greatness
Bonang fatsheng labo ntata rona
Greetings to the land of our forefathers
Madi a arona phalala
Their blood was shed
Maatla arona a hudisa
Their strength was tested
Ba di tshabeng ... Ba mose
Those who were beaten...Have passed on
Rona re feletse mona hauteng
We are struggling here in Gauteng
Rona re feletse mona komponeng
We are struggling here in the townships
Hauteng hauteng hauteng hauteng mona hauteng
Repeated greeting to the province of Gauteng and acknowledgement of struggle
Writer(s): Caiphus Semenya
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@totalvisionproduction601
Marking the register
Who's here 2023???
@tshedisolehari5312
There's a lot of meaningful message behind this song. Well done Mama Makeba. We will always remember you. Your contribution to South African is highly appreciated
@Official_Sammy_M
Significant greatest female musician of this century 🌷she multiplied into many greats. We honor you Mom Merriam ❤continue to rest
@velibrown7904
I never knew that Malaika got inspiration from the great Mama Makeba, she did a good job.
@heidiehou4042
This is my fav song by Malaika I never knew it's originally from this great legend now I understand 😢❤
@thezedroadtrip
This is one of my favorites of all time
@kayycee6490
Beautiful voice, lovely song. Timeless, relevant to this day. A lot of us come to the big city to improve our prospects. We don't always realise what the move costs us in the long run.
@neokuaho1674
Mom's favorite. Brings back good special memories of my mom back in the days ko Soweto.
@ntebokhosi6687
Wow! Well done mam makeba I also didn't know Malaika got inspired by you.. You're a legend and your music lives within us.
@andrewsethole2532
Ummatched😮😢😮