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
Phata Phata
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
A-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
"Pata Pata" is the name of a dance ... we do down Johannesburg way.
And everybody ... starts to move ... as soon as "Pata Pata" starts to play - hoo ...
Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Haji-a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga jo-ho
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si
Hoo, every Friday and Saturday night ... it's "Pata Pata"-time.
The dance keeps going all night long ... till the morning sun begins to shine - hey!
Aya sat wuguga sat - wo-ho-o
Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata ...
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata ...
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata...
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata...
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
A-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
A-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Huh- a sat wuguga sat - hit it! ...
Aah- sat wuguga sat - aim not si - hit it! ...
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata ...
The lyrics of Miriam Makeba's song "Phata Phata" are a celebration of a dance called the Pata Pata. The song opens with the repeated phrase "Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata" which is a call to everyone to start dancing the Pata Pata. The song's infectious rhythm and melody build on this call to dance, as the added vocals join in with the chant. The lyrics also include the phrase "Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata" which is a celebratory call to keep dancing the Pata Pata.
Makeba's song is an embodiment of the South African music genre called "Mbaqanga" which incorporates the traditional music styles of the Zulu, Sotho, and Xhosa people, blending them with western instrumentation. The Pata Pata dance was also popular in South Africa and inspired by American Soul and R&B music styles. The song was released in 1967 and became an international hit, especially in the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A repetitive and upbeat chant used to accompany the dance called Pata Pata.
Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pata
Another repetitive chant used to hype up the dancers and inspire them to keep moving.
Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
Continuation of the chant that drives the rhythm of the dance.
"Pata Pata" is the name of a dance ... we do down Johannesburg way.
And everybody ... starts to move ... as soon as "Pata Pata" starts to play - hoo ...
Explains that Pata Pata is a well-known and popular dance from Johannesburg, and whenever the music starts playing, people immediately begin dancing.
Haji-a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga jo-ho
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pata
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si
Continuation of the chant used to keep the rhythm of the dance going.
Hoo, every Friday and Saturday night ... it's "Pata Pata"-time.
The dance keeps going all night long ... till the morning sun begins to shine - hey!
Aya sat wuguga sat - wo-ho-o
Highlights that Pata Pata is a regular occurrence on Fridays and Saturdays and is danced non-stop all night until dawn breaks.
Huh- a sat wuguga sat - hit it! ...
Aah- sat wuguga sat - aim not si - hit it! ...
A sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata ...
Another chant used to keep the tempo of the dance going and to encourage the dancers to keep moving.
Contributed by Brody I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@matheusandrade4435
Quem veio pelo Now United?
@alokzeradj
sinceramente now united...
@annesantos238
Now united para baixinhos agr kkkkkkkkll
@loredanapuggioni8958
C'era una volta una discoteca a Torino che si chiamava PataPata, e questa canzone era il pezzo di chiusura....... Tanto tempo fa.
@olafcrocker3936
I was 15 the first time I heard this great piece of music. I'm 68 now. Still enjoying it.
@stephenlevant4033
Indeed. I first heard Mama Africa sing this in 1967 (I was 8 years old). This song embodies inspiration, encouragement, and a zest for life that overcomes adversity. All that she went through didn't break her but empowered one of the many voices speaking out justice, peace, and humanity. RIP Mama Africa.
@AkashN-dz7hi
@@stephenlevant4033 Dang you guys are fricking legends, and so is Mama Africa
@dthomas4501
Another "legend" jumping on the train! Hear this for the first time in 1967 and loved it and the artist. 77 now and still loving it. Thank you Mama Africa!!
@petrainan4454
@@stephenlevant4033 q
@jimb9369
@@stephenlevant4033 66 here, totally agree.