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
Unyana Wolahleko
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ndithi ndixolele
Ndikonile ngokudela imithetho yakho (Mithetho yakho)
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Bawo
Nceda Bawo ndixolele
Ndikone ngento zonke
Ndizithoba phambi kwakho ndikucela ndithi (Phambi kwakho)
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Bawo
Nceda Bawo ndixolele
Ndemka ndiphethwe likrotshi
Ndingaz'uba ndohlupheka elizweni
Ndophul'imithetho yakho
Ngoku Bawo ndibuyile
Bawo ndiyazithoba
Ndithi ndixolele
Ndikonile ngokudela imithetho yakho (Mithetho yakho)
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Bawo
Nceda Bawo ndixolele
In Miriam Makeba's song "Unyana Wolahleko," the lyrics convey the singer's plea for forgiveness and redemption. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges their wrongdoings and asks for forgiveness ("Bawo ndiyazithoba, Ndithi ndixolele"). The singer recognizes that they have gone against the teachings and commandments of the Lord ("Ndikonile ngokudela imithetho yakho") and seeks forgiveness from Him.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on their past actions and recognizes their responsibility for all their deeds ("Ndikone ngento zonke, Ngentetho nezenzo"). The singer acknowledges that they have sinned in front of the Lord ("Ndizithoba phambi kwakho") and seeks His forgiveness again.
In the last verse, the singer expresses their desire to return to the Lord and to live their life according to His teachings ("Ngoku Bawo ndibuyile"). The singer pleads with the Lord to forgive them and to guide them on the right path.
Overall, "Unyana Wolahleko" is a powerful song that conveys the message of repentance, forgiveness, and the desire to live a life according to one's beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Bawo ndiyazithoba
Father, I am in trouble
Ndithi ndixolele
I say forgive me
Ndikonile ngokudela imithetho yakho (Mithetho yakho)
I have sinned by breaking your laws
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Father, please forgive me
Ndikone ngento zonke
I see everything
Ngentetho nezenzo
Through words and actions
Ndizithoba phambi kwakho ndikucela ndithi (Phambi kwakho)
I admit my guilt and plead with you
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Father, please forgive me
Ndemka ndiphethwe likrotshi
I have been bound with chains
Ndingaz'uba ndohlupheka elizweni
I am lost and suffering in this world
Ndophul'imithetho yakho
I have broken your laws
Ngoku Bawo ndibuyile
Now, Father, bring me back
Bawo ndiyazithoba
Father, I am in trouble
Ndithi ndixolele
I say forgive me
Ndikonile ngokudela imithetho yakho (Mithetho yakho)
I have sinned by breaking your laws
Bawo nceda ndixolele
Father, please forgive me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mfundo Piti
on To Those We Love (Nongqongqo)
At the time the song was composed and released all the people mentioned ((Mangaliso) Sobukhwe, (Albert) Luthuli, (Nelson) Mandela, and (Walter) Sisulu were alive. While the three were in prison at Robben Island, Luthuli was not in prison, hence the question to Luthuli asking what "will you do?". Luthuli was the president of the banned African National Congress (ANC). Sobukhwe the president of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Mandela and Sisulu occupied executive leadership positions within the ANC at the time of their sentencing to serve life sentences in prison (1964). The same question is asked to all Africans.
Mfundo Piti
on To Those We Love (Nongqongqo)
The lyrics of "To Those We Love" by Miriam Makeba are about the struggles, sacrifices, and resilience of great African leaders who fought for freedom, justice, and equality. The repetitive chorus, "Bahleli bonke entilongweni, Bahleli bonke kwaNongqongqo" refers to how all these leaders, including Sobukwe, Luthuli, Mandela, and Sisulu, are resting in peace or buried in their respective homes. The verses pose questions about their legacy and the continuation of their work, asking "Why, Baba Luthuli? What will you do?" and "What will happen to us, MaAfrica?" These questions are a call to action for listeners to carry on the struggle for freedom and justice.
Junior
on Soweto Blues
The melancholy in her voice
Junior
on Mama
It makes me cry I could not bury my mother cause I was in prison when I ask prison authorities to allow me an opportunity to go and attend the funeral they refused. We always underestimate the role of women
no
on Beware, Verwoerd! (Ndodemnyama)
no
hi! i enjoted. this song. i loved it
Matt Olomu
on Noweva
This is your challenge, South Africans who understand the lyrics of NOWEVER. Do yourselves and Africa a favour. Interpret it.