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

That's How It Goes
Miriam Makeba Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world
And then he'll disappear

Beware

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world
And then he'll disappear
Beware

I know that this man is no laughter
I say send him back to his mother
My friend if it's lovin' you're after
I say go and look for another

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world
And then he'll disappear
Beware

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world
And then he'll disappear
Beware

Khanibabhalele incwadi
Nibaphe imali yokudla
Khanibabhalele incwadi
Nibaphe imali yokudla

Yini nsizwa?
Uyangibambezela
Ah nsizwa

Yin'insizwa?
Iyangibambezela
Ah nsizwa

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world
And then he'll disappear
Beware

That's how it goes
That man who'll treat you cruel
Don't you let him near
Take care

That's how it goes
He'll promise you the world

And then he'll disappear
Beware

Overall Meaning

The song "That's How It Goes" by Miriam Makeba warns women to be careful of men who treat them badly and make empty promises. The lyrics repeat the warning over and over again, with each verse emphasizing the importance of being cautious. The song starts off by warning of men who will treat you cruelly and not to let them get close. The second verse warns that such a man will promise you the world and then disappear. The chorus repeats the same message, reminding the listener to stay vigilant.

The song comes from a place of understanding and empathy, as the lyrics suggest that the singer has been through such situations before. She understands the pain and heartbreak that comes with dealing with such men, and is urging other women not to make the same mistakes. In the bridge, the singer pleads with her friend to not settle for a man who will treat her badly and instead find someone who will truly love her. The inclusion of the Zulu lyrics towards the end of the song adds an African touch to the message and reinforces the importance of women being cautious irrespective of cultural boundaries.

Miriam Makeba's "That's How It Goes" is a timeless classic that warns women to be wary of men who make empty promises and ultimately break their hearts. It conveys an important message of self-love and caution that still resonates with people today.

Line by Line Meaning

That's how it goes
This is how things happen

That man who'll treat you cruel
A man who will treat you badly

Don't you let him near
Do not allow him close to you

Take care
Be cautious

He'll promise you the world
He will make big promises

And then he'll disappear
But he will not keep his promises

Beware
Be warned

I know that this man is no laughter
I am certain that this man is not kind

I say send him back to his mother
I suggest removing him from your life

My friend if it's lovin' you're after
If you are seeking love

I say go and look for another
I suggest finding someone else