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
Ngewundini
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa? (Mgewu ndini)
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa? (Mgewu ndini)
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa? (Mgewu ndini)
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Heh mama
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Xelel'abazali bam
The song "Ngewundini" by Miriam Makeba is a traditional South African Xhosa song. The repeated phrase "Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?" translates to "Will you protect me, father?" and "Xelel' abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?" means "Will you tell my parents to protect me?" The repetition of these phrases reflects the vulnerability and fear present in the lyrics.
The lyrics also reference the importance of community in protecting and caring for one another. Makeba sings "Mgewu ndini" as a plea for protection, but also as a statement of connection to those around her. The "heh mama" towards the end of the song further emphasizes the importance of maternal figures in providing care and support.
Overall, "Ngewundini" is a poignant and emotional expression of the need for protection and community support in times of fear and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Will you still protect me in Ngewundini?
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Ngewundini, Ngewundini
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa? (Mgewu ndini)
Will my parents protect me in Ngewundini?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Will my parents protect me in Ngewundini?
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Ngewundini, hi-hi-hi-hi
Heh mama
Oh Mother
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Ngewundini, hi-hi-hi-hi
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Ngewundini, Ngewundini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Ngewundini, hi-hi-hi-hi
Mgewu ndini uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Will you still protect me in Ngewundini?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa? (Mgewu ndini)
Will my parents protect me in Ngewundini?
Xelel'abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa?
Will my parents protect me in Ngewundini?
Mgewu ndini
Ngewundini
Mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini, mgewu ndini
Ngewundini, Ngewundini, Ngewundini
Mgewu ndi-hi-hi-hi-hi-ni
Ngewundini, hi-hi-hi-hi
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@connandie
I loved listening to this song when I was a child and I am glad to have found it again. Thank you!
@josedomingostadelman738
Beautiful song
@jeanpi3141592654
oui mais les roumains sont plus sentimentaux et n'ont pas crainte de l'avouer , eux .
@salterpenda1180
Please who can translate?
@Refocus_U
Salter Penda Mgewundini uzondigcina na kodwa- Young man/fellow are you going to look after me?
Xelela abazali bam uzawundigcina na kodwa - Tell my parents you will look after me
@salterpenda1180
Refocus U thank you so much!