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
Mas Que Nada
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Obá obá obá
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
Eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Esse samba
Que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tú
Mas que nada
Um samba como este tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que eu chegue no final
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
Eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Esse samba
Que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tú
Mas que nada
Um samba como este tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que eu chegue no final
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
O ariá raió
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
The lyrics to Miriam Makeba's song "Mas Que Nada" are a fun and upbeat expression of her love for samba and her desire to dance. The repeated refrain "O ariá raió, Obá obá obá" is a joyful exultation of the moment, with no literal translation. The first verse, "Mas que nada, sai da minha frente, eu quero passar, pois o samba está animado, o que eu quero é sambar" is a playful challenge to anyone in the way of her enjoyment of the samba rhythms. The second verse, "Esse samba que é misto de maracatu, é samba de preto velho, samba de preto tú" is a nod to the Afro-Brazilian roots of samba music, with a particular reference to maracatu, a style that combines African rhythms and indigenous Brazilian styles.
Overall, the song is a celebration of samba music and dance, and the joy that comes from immersing oneself in the rhythms and energy of the music. Miriam Makeba's voice is full of life and exuberance, and the music reflects the uplifting spirit of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
O ariá raió
This is a joyful celebration, expressed in sound and movement
Obá obá obá
The excitement of the celebration is building and growing stronger
Mas que nada
But wait, there's more!
Sai da minha frente
Get out of my way
Eu quero passar
I need to keep moving forward
Pois o samba está animado
The music and dancing are energizing and exciting
O que eu quero é sambar
All I want to do is dance the samba
Esse samba
This samba
Que é misto de maracatu
Which blends elements of maracatu music with the samba rhythm
É samba de preto velho
It's the kind of samba played by older, more traditional musicians
Samba de preto tú
It's the samba of the black people
Um samba como este tão legal
A samba like this, so wonderful
Você não vai querer
You won't be able to resist
Que eu chegue no final
You won't want me to ever stop playing this samba
Obá obá obá
The excitement and joy of the celebration continues
Obá obá obá
The happiness and fun of the moment is increasing
Obá obá obá
The music and dancing are the center of the festivities
Writer(s): Emily Cranz, Jorge Lima Menezes
Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MzOvahness
Mas Que Nada
More than anything
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
More than anything
Mas que nada
Get out of my way I want to pass.
Sai da minha frente eu quero passar
Because the samba is excited
Pois o samba está animado
What I want is sambar
O que eu quero é sambar
This samba that is mixed of maracatu
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
It's old black samba
É samba de preto velho
Samba in black you
Samba de preto tu
More than anything
Mas que nada
A samba like this so cool
Um samba como esse tão legal
You will not want
Você não vai querer
That I arrive at the end
Que eu chegue no final
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
More than anything
Mas que nada
Get out of my way I want to pass.
Sai da minha frente eu quero passar
Because the samba is excited
Pois o samba está animado
What I want is sambar
O que eu quero é sambar
This samba that is mixed of maracatu
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
It's old black samba
É samba de preto velho
Samba in black you
Samba de preto tu
More than anything
Mas que nada
A samba like this so cool
Um samba como esse tão legal
You will not want
Você não vai querer
That I arrive at the end
Que eu chegue no final
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Oriá Rió
Oriá raiô
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Obá obá obá
Georgie G.
Esta música é de Jorge Benjor e foi gravada para o seu álbum de estreia "Samba Esquema Novo". Foi o seu primeiro grande sucesso. Mas que Nada rodou o mundo e foi regravada por centenas de artistas. Esta versão de Miriam Makeba é de 1967. Valorize o artista Brasileiro! Somos um dos povos mais criativos do Planeta.
angel torres
Me encanta esta canción y más en la voz de esta hermosa mujer que voz tan hermosa mis respetos siempre desde Puerto Rico la preciosa mirian mekeba querida mamá África descanse en paz
pekebrull
I"m braziliam, and this music is very famous in my country, but this lady did something "fantastic " !!! she sings very well !!!
Lara Semac
Míriam Makeba é uma eterna Diva e que lindo acento em português é absolutamente charmoso. Greetings from Brazil to the South African People.
Kerub4in
Brasil e África! Deus os abençoe! Seu ritmo, sua ginga, seu canto melodioso sus formas e cores... Obrigado Cristo por ter feito povos tão fantásticos como esses!!!! E obrigado por ter me feito brasileiro!
Rosa Mello
Eu choro de emoção é indescritível a força dessa voz
Filosofia Mente Pensante.📚
Linda vc è solteira
Zethu Mpama
This is so beautiful, love from South Africa 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 our Mom, Mam'Makeba ❤️
Rejane Costa
Diretamente do Brasil, meu muito obrigada, por ter compartilhado essa raridade, essa pedrada. Sou cantora e logo estarei postando meu vídeo dessa música no meu canal.
JOSÉ Macedo
Não sei se estas palavras chegarão ao conhecimento de alguem relacionado a MIRIAM MAKEBA . Não conhecia esta extraordinária cantora , apenas ouvia sua música PATA PATA . Estou surpreso com tanta simpatia e uma beleza diferenciada a muitos artistas . Parabéns por tudo que representa a esta nação admiradora sua . (José Macedo Rodrigues - Rio de Janeiro . R.J ) .