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
Malaika
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nakupenda malaika
Malaika
Nakupenda malaika
Ningekuoa mali we
Ningekuoa dada
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Ningekuoa malaika
Pesa
Zasumbua roho yangu
Pesa
Zasumbua roho yangu
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Ningekuoa malaika
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Ningekuoa malaika
Kidege
Hukuwaza kidege
Kidege
Hukuwaza kidege
Ningekuoa mali we
Ningekuoa dada
Nashindwa na mali sina, we
Ningekuoa malaika
Nashindwa na mali sina, we
Ningekuoa malaika
Malaika
Nakupenda malaika
Malaika
Nakupenda malaika
Ningekuoa mali we
Ningekuoa dada
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Ningekuoa malaika
Nashindwa na mali sina we
Ningekuoa malaika
The song "Malaika" by Miriam Makeba is a romantic ballad about a man expressing his love for a woman, who he considers to be an angel. The song starts with the repetition of the Swahili word "Malaika" which translates to "angel" in English. The man then goes on to say how much he loves her and how he wishes to marry her, but he is unable to because of money. He expresses his frustration with money and how it affects his ability to express his love.
The chorus highlights the man's love for the woman and how he wishes to marry her. He compares her to a bird, "kidege", which is constantly on his mind. The man then considers what he can do as a young man who is unable to financially provide for his beloved. The chorus repeats with the man expressing his desire to marry the woman despite his financial constraints.
Overall, "Malaika" is a beautiful love song that expresses the universal theme of love, and how financial constraints can sometimes get in the way of romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Malaika
An angel, a symbol of love and purity
Nakupenda malaika
I love you, my angel
Ningekuoa mali we
If I had wealth, I would marry you
Ningekuoa dada
I would marry you, my sister
Nashindwa na mali sina we
But I am defeated by lack of wealth
Pesa
Money
Zasumbua roho yangu
Money troubles disturb my soul
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
And what can I do, my fellow youth?
Kidege
A bird, a symbol of freedom
Hukuwaza kidege
You think about freedom
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@masaizamuya4477
I met her in Dar es salaam Tanzania...when I was 6 years old...she took refuge in Tanganyika as it was then called...
Before she became an international star...
I then went to see her concert in London...which was fantastic...
Mama Africa....
She will always have a special place in my heart...
My father and mother loved her...very much.
In fact every Tanzanian that I've met loves her...
I imagine the whole of Africa loving her also...
We must educate all our children to know about her and Hugh Masekela...who sacrificed a lot to fight against the racists...
Aluta continua 🌍🙏🏽
@nyabingikenyangi7051
Is someone still listening 👂🏾 to this in 2024 😅😍😅😍😇✊🏾
@irenepatrickdavid5891
#Cloud__BiayendA InA me and and I got a daughter this January and I give her a name Malaika because my husband love this song so much
@LazyIRanch
@Irene Patrick I LOVE that you gave your daughter such a beautiful name! I pray that your "Angel" grows up in a world that can overcome hate and greed, and one where all people are valued and treated with respect. Blessings to your family!
(BTW, "Malaika" translates to "Angel" in English, but I'm sure you and your husband already know that)
@gucciray4230
#Cloud__BiayendA InA I am
@yvedous
Yesss
@doreenonekalit9888
Yes. Songstress Icon of Africa 🙌🙌🙌💯
@aqsanoran1443
My husband and I used to hear this song when I was pregnant with my daughter, we named her Malaika ❤️
@ludgardshiyayo14
Angel, she must be beautiful litu girl
@harmezjames8013
Wow.. My wife just suggested we should name our girl Malaika.
@jamilaibrahim8370
I am from the Hausa tribe in Nigeria and in native language Malaika means Angel.