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
Oh So Alone
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a leafy country lane
On the teeming sandy beaches
In the Summer heat or rain
I walk alone
Oh, so all alone
All around me people gather
In the sea I am an island
They're together I am single
I walk alone
Oh, so all alone
Who am I looking for?
Where is my open door?
Must I forever be searching without a key?
And the thought forever haunts me
That no matter how I try
I'll be with them but not of them
And the world will pass me by
I walk alone
Oh, so all alone
I walk alone
Oh, so alone
The lyrics to Miriam Makeba's song "Oh So Alone" convey a deep sense of isolation and longing for connection amidst the bustling world. The song begins by depicting various settings, such as the city, country roads, and the beach, where the singer walks alone amidst crowds of people. The repetition of "Oh, so all alone" emphasizes the profound loneliness they feel despite being surrounded by others.
The second verse reflects on the disconnect the singer feels with humanity. While people gather and interact around them, the singer remains isolated like an island in the sea. The line "They're together I am single" further emphasizes this sense of separation and being an outsider. Again, the chorus repeats the phrase "Oh, so all alone," emphasizing the recurring feeling of isolation.
The following lines delve deeper into the singer's internal struggle. They question who they are searching for and where they might find an open door to escape their loneliness. The mention of forever searching without a key suggests that they are constantly seeking a place or a connection that will fill the void inside.
The final verse expresses a haunting fear that despite their efforts, the singer will never truly belong or be a part of the world around them. The repetition of "I walk alone, oh, so alone" reiterates their profound sense of isolation and the idea that they will always remain separate from the rest of humanity.
Overall, "Oh So Alone" captures the poignant experience of feeling disconnected and alone in a crowded world, reflecting on the universal human longing for connection and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
In the throbbing city traffic
Amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle of city life
On a leafy country lane
Amongst the peaceful and serene surroundings of the countryside
On the teeming sandy beaches
Among the crowd enjoying the lively sandy shores
In the Summer heat or rain
During both the scorching summer days and rainy weather
I walk alone
I journey through life without companionship
Oh, so all alone
Feeling an intense sense of solitude
All around me people gather
I witness people coming together in groups
Human beings mix and mingle
People interact and socialize with one another
In the sea I am an island
I feel isolated and disconnected from the crowd
They're together I am single
While they form connections, I remain solitary
Who am I looking for?
I question the person I am seeking
Where is my open door?
I wonder where I can find an opportunity or entrance
Must I forever be searching without a key?
Will I continuously seek without finding a solution?
And the thought forever haunts me
The idea continuously troubles my mind
That no matter how I try
Regardless of my efforts
I'll be with them but not of them
I will be in their presence, but never truly belong
And the world will pass me by
The world will move forward while I remain stagnant
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.