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
Oxgam
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Oh baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Oh baxabene ooxam (Oh la la la)
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh la la la)
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka (Weh la la la la la)
Oh baxabene ooxam (Oh la la la)
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh la la la)
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka (Weh la la la la la)
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni (Oh la la la)
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude (Oh la la la)
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni (Oh la la la)
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude (Oh la la la)
Oh baxabene ooxam (Oh la la la)
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh la la la)
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka (Weh la la la la la)
Oh baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Oham ogram
Hoya holala hoham halaham
Miriam Makeba's song "Oxgam" is a song sung in the Xhosa language of South Africa. The song talks about belonging and familial ties. "Baxabene ooxam" means "We belong to the same family" and "Bexabene ngengxoxo" means "We belong to the same bloodline." The song speaks about the connection between family members, even if they are far apart or have different experiences. This connection is shown in the line "Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni/Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude" which roughly translates to "Though we are far apart, we hear each other through the wind/We resemble each other even in distant places."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baxabene ooxam
Expressing excitement and anticipation for something upcoming or currently happening.
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Acknowledging the presence or participation of others in the same experience, possibly indicating a feeling of unity or collective celebration.
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Further emphasizing the communal aspect of the experience and the idea of coming together.
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Expressing disbelief or surprise in response to a particular situation or event, potentially one that is negative or unexpected.
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude
Describing the distress or hardship that has been caused as a result of the situation, possibly highlighting the need for empathy and understanding from others.
Oham ogram
Using an onomatopoeic phrase to evoke a sense of motion, progression, or momentum.
Hoya holala hoham halaham
Continuing the use of onomatopoeia to indicate a sense of liveliness and movement, potentially emphasizing the joy and celebration of the overall experience.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rememberourmusic440
Oh baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Oh baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Beliqada bo ngeqotho leqhude
Hayi ke legqi iqheya laxing'eqhingeni
Beliqada mama ngeqotho leqhude
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Oh baxabene ooxam (Oh
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Hayi ke legqi iqheya
Beliqada bo ngeqotho
Hayi ke legqi iqheya
Beliqada mama ngeqotho
Hayi ke legqi iqheya
Beliqada bo ngeqotho
Hayi ke legqi iqheya
Beliqada bo ngeqotho
Oh baxabene ooxam (Oh
Bexabene ngengxoxo (Oh
Bexakwe yingxubaxaka
Oh baxabene ooxam
Bexabene ngengxoxo
Oham ogram
Hoya holala hoham
@frjimomi
I saw her perform in Buffalo, New York. She held us in the palm of her hand, and she changed my heart. I will always be grateful to her and God for that moment. What a great person!!!
@jennyrose9454
Some performers just have that special quality and yes she has it
@danielagraf2668
I startet her hearing with 12 y. Now im 63 and sie still give me strenghs . Luke Mavis Stapel.
@frjimomi
@@danielagraf2668 Makeba had a particular impact on the civil rights movement in America. She was more than a great singer. She was alike the leaven in the dough; her music made the bread of justice rise. I'm somewhat confused. I see your name, Daniela, but you typed in Luke Mavis Stapel at the end of your message. I well remember the amazing Stapel Singer sisters and their brother, Pervis.
@Kevin-Muteg1
Miriam Makeba - Africa Queen. Your beautiful voice will last forever.
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@fornlike
She was a real singer. As soon as she starts singing you have a glimpse of how singing is important for her. You see that it's real! as if singing was to her like a world feeding and protecting her. Only top singers give this kind of feeling to people watching them. I don't know for the others but to me it's emotionally powerful and efficient because it's beautiful but also kind of scary... Maybe because somewhere they disconnect from the reality of the physical world. I will never forget this great woman and artist.
@yonatal8508
She is an african queen of great beauty and amazing musical talent. She makes me proud to be an african. From Ethiopia...
@richardmanqele2878
So beautiful Mama Afrika. I am listening in December 2020. Your voice is eternal. Rest in Eternal Glorious Peace.
@azaniaafrika9862
The closest thing to hearing the oldest language on the planet. She went and did a song?! Praise and recognition to this beautiful ancestor.
@janeadams9948
Our African queen.. you did us proud.. love you Miriam... you are amazing