Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond di… Read Full Bio ↴Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond dispute one of South Africa's true legends. Born March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, Miriam Makeba was barely 21 years old when she, as a member of the Manhattan Brothers, reached for the stars in her home country. It didn't take long before Miriam Makeba's career was brought to another level. In 1966 she received a Grammy Award for the album An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba, making her the first African artist to win a Grammy. Her star rose further when she released her 1967 globally acclaimed Pata Pata, including the worldwide hit "Qongqothwane" (better known as the 'Click Song'). Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography .
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
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
One More Dance -
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Darling, go home
Your husband is ill
Is he ill?
Let them give him a pill
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
Your husband is worse
Is he worse?
Well, I am no nurse
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
Your husband is dead
Is he dead?
There's no more to be said
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
The will's to be read
What's that you said?
I said the will's to be read
Oh, no, no, my dear Franz
This is no time to dance
I must go weep for my poor old man
I/she must go weep for my/her poor old man
Your husband is ill
Is he ill?
Let them give him a pill
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
Is he worse?
Well, I am no nurse
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
Your husband is dead
Is he dead?
There's no more to be said
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man
Darling, go home
The will's to be read
What's that you said?
I said the will's to be read
Oh, no, no, my dear Franz
This is no time to dance
I must go weep for my poor old man
I/she must go weep for my/her poor old man
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: C.C. CARTER, ROSEMARY PRIMONT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@Agnethatheredhairkid
Miriam's facial expressions are priceless. What a voice! What a song! What a lady!
@olebileolebile4847
Her attitude on stage was everything
@ezennacharles5746
Ageless!!! One can not help but love this performance.
@dzehoi
Darned! Even after 50 years, this song still cracks me up.. and now it also tears me up from memories of a certain age, time and an incomparable artist..
@stanzaafrika5206
This song always make my day... Keep resting in peace mama Miriam Makeba 💔💔💔💜
@ezekieludo1856
Even as a lad then, I always felt heavenly when listening to this timeless piece. Forever in my heart, Miriam.
@fezmai1282
This gem..this Mirriam this LEGEND..our Makeba...thank you for sharing...
@nanaaba1000
This is warm 🥰
@imochima5978
Been looking for this song since 1986
@hyacinthreynolds997
I love this song dearly the late Miriam Makeba was one of my favorite singers. She has left a legacy behind. May her soul rest in peace.😢😢😢