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
Moody Moods
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the mood of loving
When my kind of love's in love
Yes in love with me
My right kind of feelings too
It is my kind of mood (My kind of mood)
It is the mood of loving
In this sweet mood
The sweet mood of loving
So let us dance to the music (Music)
The music of loving
Of loving life
So let us dance to the music
Music that tells of my love for you
Of my love for you
It is my groovy mood (My groovy mood)
It is the mood of dancing
So take off your shoes and dance to the music
The music of loving
So let us dance to the music (Music)
The music of loving (Music)
Of loving life
So let us dance to the music
Music that tells of my love for you
Of my love for you
In Miriam Makeba's song "Moody Moods," the lyrics express a joyous and celebratory mood of love and happiness. The singer reflects on being in a positive state of mind and feeling love in its purest form. The opening lines suggest that the singer and their partner share a deep connection, where their love is reciprocated and they are both fully invested in the relationship. The mention of "my right kind of feelings too" indicates a sense of emotional alignment and understanding between the two individuals.
The repetition of "my kind of mood" emphasizes the specificity and uniqueness of the love the singer is experiencing. The absence of any inhibitions or reservations in this love is highlighted, portraying a relationship that is free from any constraints or doubts. The reference to "the sweet mood of loving" conveys a sense of sweetness and tenderness in the way love is experienced and shared between the partners.
The call to "dance to the music" evokes a sense of playfulness and togetherness, suggesting that the act of dancing symbolizes the harmony and unity in their relationship. The music of loving is described as a celebration of life and the bond shared between the lovers. The repetition of this sentiment reinforces the idea of embracing love and life with open arms.
The lyrics culminate in a declaration of love and a call to action to express that love through dancing. The invitation to "take off your shoes and dance to the music" signals a carefree and uninhibited attitude towards love, encouraging both partners to fully immerse themselves in the moment and enjoy the music that serves as a symbol of their love. The final lines reiterate the connection between music, love, and the singer's feelings, emphasizing the depth of emotion and devotion they have towards their partner. Overall, the song conveys a message of pure, joyful love and the importance of celebrating that love through music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
You have my kind of mood
You understand and share the same feelings and emotions as me
It is the mood of loving
It is the feeling of being in love
When my kind of love's in love
When the person I love is also in love with me
Yes in love with me
Yes, they reciprocate my feelings of love
My right kind of feelings too
I am experiencing the right emotions and feelings
Don't have any hang ups
I have no reservations or obstacles in this positive mood
In this sweet mood
In this pleasant and affectionate state of mind
So let us dance to the music
Let us celebrate and enjoy life through music
The music of loving life
The music that represents the joy and happiness of being in love
Music that tells of my love for you
Music that expresses my deep affection and love for you
It is my groovy mood
It is my upbeat and lively state of mind
It is the mood of dancing
It is the feeling of wanting to dance and have fun
So take off your shoes and dance to the music
Let go of inhibitions and dance to the rhythm of life
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.