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
Thulasizwe
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
THULASIZWE UNGABOKHALA
You JEHOVA WAKHO UZOKUNQOBELA
INKULULEKO, INKULULEKO
You JEHOVA WAKHO UZOKUNQOBELA
Yet every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see the light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now any day now
I shall be released
They say every man needs protection
They say every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place too high above this wall
Now yonder standing me in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
ALl day long I hear his voice shouting so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see the light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now any day now
I shall be released
Miriam Makeba's song "Thulasizwe" is a traditional South African song that seeks to inspire hope and faith in the face of difficult circumstances. The chorus, "Thulasizwe ungabokhala, uJehova wakho uzokunqobela," which translates to "Be still, don't cry, your Lord will conquer for you," encourages listeners to trust in God's promises and have faith that He will overcome obstacles in their lives.
The second verse, however, takes a more melancholic turn as the singer reflects on past hurts and injustices, singing "I remember every face, of every man who put me here." The following lines, "I see the light come shining, from the west unto the east, any day now any day now, I shall be released," suggest that despite the trials and tribulations of the present, a brighter future is on the horizon.
It is interesting to note that although "Thulasizwe" is a traditional song, it was popularized internationally by Makeba during her exile from South Africa due to her outspoken opposition to apartheid. Makeba performed the song at the United Nations in 1963 and it became a symbol of hope and resistance for anti-apartheid activists around the world. Additionally, Makeba recorded a version of the song in English titled "I Shall Be Released" which featured additional lyrics by Bob Dylan.
Line by Line Meaning
THULASIZWE UNGABOKHALA
Quiet, nation, don't cry
You JEHOVA WAKHO UZOKUNQOBELA
God will protect you
INKULULEKO, INKULULEKO
Freedom, freedom
They say everything can be replaced
People say that anything can be substituted
Yet every distance is not near
But not everything far away is easily accessible
So I remember every face
Therefore, I recall every person's appearance
Of every man who put me here
Of all the men who played a role in my current situation
I see the light come shining
I notice the brightness that emerges
From the west unto the east
From the direction of the west to the east
Any day now any day now
At any moment, very soon
I shall be released
I will be freed
They say every man needs protection
People say that everyone requires safeguarding
They say every man must fall
People say that everyone has to experience defeat
Yet I swear I see my reflection
However, I am convinced that I see myself reflected
Some place too high above this wall
Somewhere that is higher than this barrier
Now yonder standing me in this lonely crowd
Over there, in that lonely group of people, stands me
A man who swears he's not to blame
A man who claims that he is not responsible for the situation
All day long I hear his voice shouting so loud
Throughout the day, I hear his loud, shouting voice
Crying out that he was framed
He is proclaiming that he was set up
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peu234
Viva Mirian Makeba! Viva Nina Simone! A luta de vocês duas nesse plano acabou mas o legado de vocês continua vivíssimo!!
@roberthenryeller
I was sure that if I search on "Nina Simone" and "duet" I'd come up empty. Makeba collaborated with many others. I did not think that Simone collaborated with anyone. How rare, how precious.
@marysem
Robert Eller they were Best friends and both lived in Africa (Guinea, Ghana) in the 60s
@juliolazzagonzalez
On September 4th, 1990, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, and Odetta began a brief tour of Italy — titled "Three Women For Freedom" — performing at Rocca dei Normanni in Paternò (Catania), followed by concerts in Salerno on 9/6, Cagliari on 9/8, and Bologna on 9/10.
@chrisofmelbourne87
Omgg I just strayed listening to Lady Miriam (Today), what a legendary voice and energy! And...thought about Nina Simone, similar free and strong spirits, also fighters for rights and justice. And found this song! Wowwww 😀😀😀😀
@celiamu9507
I ALWAYS feel so inspired when I listen this magic song ! Two african queens singing together for my beautiful homeland - AFRICA- So proud of them
@penny7433
Befitting song, Madiba's vision of a free and equal society, is resounded in this song, that the Nation(iSizwe) was indeed freed from oppression by another. Reconciliation instead of retribution, love instead of war was realised, as our Jehovah indeed was victorious for the Nation(UJehova wakho uzokunqobela)...I can't stop playing this song.
@sinclairroberts3275
Wow! Two musical geniuses who sacrificed riches and adoration for their principles. Mighty icons.
@lakeisharobinson2132
God Bless Their Souls!! ❤❤
@loyisozako815
Happy to know that I'm sharing a star with the Divas, feel blessed.