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
The Click Song a.k.a. Qongqothwane
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Seleqabele gqith' apha, nguqongqothwane
Selequbule gqith' apha, nguqongqothwane
Seleqabele gqith' apha, nguqongqothwane
Selequbule gqith' apha, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane (Hayi-bo)
Nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
The Click Song by Miriam Makeba is a rhythmic and upbeat song with mostly repetitive lyrics. The lyrics are sung in Xhosa, a Bantu language from South Africa. The title of the song, Qongqothwane, refers to the sound of the mouth musical instrument called the Xhosa "igubu," which is used in the song. Miriam Makeba being a prominent anti-Apartheid activist, this song represents a cultural resistance to the colonialism and oppression of black South Africans.
The repetitive chorus, "Nguqongqothwane, Igqira lendlela" translates to be "I am a click beetle, I am the road runner." The click beetle (qongqothwane) is a symbol of persistence and adaptability, which is reflected in the primary message of the song – to keep moving forward despite the obstacles and hardships of life. The "Igqira lendlela" represents the road runner, which further emphasizes the message to keep moving forward and not give up.
In summary, The Click Song is a celebratory song that reflects the resilience of the black South Africans through the struggle of oppression and social injustice. The song encourages resilience and perseverance even in the face of adverse circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Nguqo-, nguqongqothwane
I am an African porcupine, known for the clicking sound I make
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
I am a trailblazer and always forging my path, like the unique sound I make
Seleqabele gqith' apha, nguqongqothwane
I am resilient and strong, standing firmly and being immovable like the quills on my back
Nguqongqothwane (Hayi-bo)
I am proud of who I am and what I symbolize, and will defend that with everything I have
Igqira lendlela, nguqongqothwane
I continue to carve my own way and stand out in the world like the clicking of my quills
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joseph Mogotsi, Miriam Makeba, Nathan Mdledle, Ronnie Sehume, Rufus Khoza
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@St0ckwell
In my native village, in Johannesburg
There is a song that we always sing when a young girl gets married
It's called The Click Song by the English
Because they can't say ngqothwane
Igqira lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Igqira lendlela kuthwa nguqo ngqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Seleqabele gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Selequbule gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Seleqabele gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Selequbule gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Igqira lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Igqira lendlela kuthwa nguqo ngqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqo ngqothwane
Seleqabele gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Selequbule gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Seleqabele gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
Selequbule gqi thapha nguqo ngqothwane
@varunchoudhary8149
I am leaving this comment here so after a month or a year when someone likes it, i get reminded of this masterpiece ❤
@WallyBe
My Africa. Our Africa. All Africa. No world without Africa
@africanqueen1655
You know God’s First & Chosen when you see them. 🧐 We welcomed people that hate us, but it is all being sorted out. 🙏🏿🤴🏾👸🏾🙌🏾
@majdfares6637
I just love how proud she is of herself and her culture.
@lincolnoliveira3041
Motif
@colourinmyrainbow
@@denzmc Nonsense!
@mackadoo101
Yes indeed! Without taking away anyone's own culture that is wholesome and good, everyone should always be allowed to exude their culture, and share it to the world of people who will see, acknowledge and appreciate! For the haters of all cultures that are not theirs, and always want to imitate it...stop your hate! Look, learn ,seek...but never ever disrespect!!!!
@wissenschaftenundpraxishan1952
She was amazing with her voice and the glow in her eyes!
@visheshl
It almost feels like that click sound is a percussion instrument played by a musician while she's singing, amazing ❤
@saintclaire4897
No. She does that with her tongue.