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
Muntu
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go senyegile kae
Ga le rothisha keledi
Keledi e ya bohlokwa
Gomola Muntu
Gomola tate
Le kwesha nna bohloko
Ga le rothisha keledi
Ba mmogo ba sepetse
Mme ga se ge ba etse ruri
Ba ka no boya
Ba go swaretse
Ka moka tse leng go bose
Phumola keledi tseuwe
O seke wa lla ngwanake
O se rothise keledi
Keledi tse tsa bohlokwa
Gomola o di phumole
O seke wa lla ngwanake, ngwanake
O se rothise keledi, oh keledi
Keledi tse tsa bohlokwa
Gomola o di phumole
Ba mmogo ba sepetse
Mme ga se ge ba etse ruri
Ba ka no boya
Ba go swaretse
Ka moka tse leng go bose
Phumola keledi tseuwe
Phumola keledi tseuwe
In the song "Muntu" by Miriam Makeba, the lyrics are written in Zulu and are full of symbolism and wisdom. The first verse asks, "What is the mountain without trees? Where have we gone wrong? We don't cultivate the important things." The lyrics refer to how humanity has lost sight of what is truly valuable in life and how we have neglected the environment and natural resources that sustain us.
The second verse describes people who are wealthy but do not give back to society. They praise themselves but do not take meaningful actions to uplift others. They are consumed with greed and do not realize the importance of sharing with others. The singer urges these people to reflect on their actions and "wake up" before it's too late.
Overall, "Muntu" calls for a return to traditional values and practices that promote harmony with nature and community welfare. The song encourages people to use their resources wisely and to prioritize kindness and generosity towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Taba ke eng jwale
What is the matter here?
Go senyegile kae
Where have we gone wrong?
Ga le rothisha keledi
We don't want to fight anymore
Keledi e ya bohlokwa
This fight is important
Gomola Muntu
Wait, oh man
Gomola tate
Wait, father
Le kwesha nna bohloko
And leave me with fear
Ga le rothisha keledi
We don't want to fight anymore
Ba mmogo ba sepetse
Many people have disagreed
Mme ga se ge ba etse ruri
But they never really left
Ba ka no boya
They will come back again
Ba go swaretse
And they will reconcile with you
Ka moka tse leng go bose
As long as we don't take revenge
Phumola keledi tseuwe
Let us stop this important fight
O seke wa lla ngwanake
Don't cry, my child
O se rothise keledi
You don't have to fight anymore
Keledi tse tsa bohlokwa
This important fight
Gomola o di phumole
Wait, let it end
O seke wa lla ngwanake, ngwanake
Don't cry, my child
O se rothise keledi, oh keledi
You don't have to fight anymore
Phumola keledi tseuwe
Let us stop this important fight
Ba mmogo ba sepetse
Many people have disagreed
Mme ga se ge ba etse ruri
But they never really left
Ba ka no boya
They will come back again
Ba go swaretse
And they will reconcile with you
Ka moka tse leng go bose
As long as we don't take revenge
Phumola keledi tseuwe
Let us stop this important fight
Phumola keledi tseuwe
Let us stop this important fight
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.