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
Xica da Silva
Miriam Makeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De escrava a amante, mulher
Mulher do fidalgo tratador
João Fernandes
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a negra
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
A imperatriz do Tijuco
A dona de Diamantina
Morava com a sua corte
Cercada de belas mucamas
Num castelo, na chácara, na palha
De arquitetura sólida e requintada
Onde tinha até um lago artifical
E uma luxuosa galera
Que seu amor João Fernandes, o tratador
Mandou fazer, só para ela
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a negra
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a negra
Muito rica e invejada
Temida e odiada
Pois com as suas perucas
Cada uma de uma cor
Jóias, roupas exóticas
Das Índias, Lisboa e Paris
A negra era obrigada a ser recebida
Como uma grande senhora
Da corte do Reis Luís
Da corte do Reis Luís
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a negra
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a negra
The song Xica da Silva by Miriam Makeba tells the story of a black woman named Xica da Silva who goes from being a slave to the lover of João Fernandes, a fidalgo, or nobleman. Xica becomes a powerful and wealthy woman, known as the imperatriz do Tijuco and the dona de Diamantina, and lives in a luxurious castle surrounded by beautiful women. She is described as wearing wigs of different colors and exotic clothes from India, Lisbon, and Paris. Despite her wealth and status, she is still seen as a black woman and must be received as a great lady from the court of King Louis.
The lyrics speak to the story of a remarkable woman who overcomes the limitations and discriminations of her time and becomes a powerful figure in Brazilian history. Xica da Silva's story is one of resilience, strength, and perseverance, and the song pays tribute to her as a symbol of black pride and resistance.
Line by Line Meaning
Xica da Silva a negra, a negra
Introducing Xica da Silva, a black woman.
De escrava a amante, mulher
From a slave to a lover, a woman.
Mulher do fidalgo tratador
The woman of the nobleman João Fernandes, the handler.
João Fernandes
Referring to João Fernandes, Xica da Silva's lover.
A imperatriz do Tijuco
Describing Xica da Silva as the empress of Tijuco.
A dona de Diamantina
Referring to Xica da Silva as the owner of Diamantina.
Morava com a sua corte
Living with her court of beautiful slave girls.
Cercada de belas mucamas
Surrounded by beautiful slave girls.
Num castelo, na chácara, na palha
In a castle, in a farm, in the straw.
De arquitetura sólida e requintada
Describing the solid and luxurious architecture of Xica's residence.
Onde tinha até um lago artifical
Where even an artificial lake could be found.
E uma luxuosa galera
And a luxury galley boat that João Fernandes had made for her.
Que seu amor João Fernandes, o tratador
Referring to João Fernandes as Xica's love, the handler.
Mandou fazer, só para ela
He had it made, just for her.
Muito rica e invejada
Very rich and envied.
Temida e odiada
Feared and hated.
Pois com as suas perucas
Because of her wigs.
Cada uma de uma cor
Each one a different color.
Jóias, roupas exóticas
Describing Xica's exotic jewelry and clothing.
Das Índias, Lisboa e Paris
From India, Lisbon, and Paris.
A negra era obrigada a ser recebida
Xica was obligated to be received.
Como uma grande senhora
As a great lady.
Da corte do Reis Luís
Of the court of King Louis.
Writer(s): Jorge Ben
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ericmarignone
Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
Xica da Silva
A Negra! A Negra!
De escrava a amante
Mulher!
Mulher do fidalgo tratador
João Fernandes
Ai! Ai! Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
A imperatriz do Tijuco
A dona de Diamantina
Morava com a sua corte
Cercada de belas mucamas...
Num castelo
Na Chácara, na Palha
De arquitetura
Sólida e requintada
Onde tinha até
Um lago artifical
E uma luxuosa galera
Que seu amor
João Fernandes, o tratador
Mandou fazer, só para ela
Ai! Ai1 Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
Muito rica e invejada
Temida e odiada
Pois com as suas perucas
Cada uma de uma cor...
Jóias, roupas exóticas
Das Índias, Lisboa e Paris
A negra era obrigada
A ser recebida
Como uma grande senhora
Da corte
Do Reis Luís!
Da corte
Do Reis Luís!...
Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai!
@ericmarignone
Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
Xica da Silva
A Negra! A Negra!
De escrava a amante
Mulher!
Mulher do fidalgo tratador
João Fernandes
Ai! Ai! Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
A imperatriz do Tijuco
A dona de Diamantina
Morava com a sua corte
Cercada de belas mucamas...
Num castelo
Na Chácara, na Palha
De arquitetura
Sólida e requintada
Onde tinha até
Um lago artifical
E uma luxuosa galera
Que seu amor
João Fernandes, o tratador
Mandou fazer, só para ela
Ai! Ai! Ai!...
Xica da, Xica da, Xica da
Xica da Silva, a Negra!...(2x)
Muito rica e invejada
Temida e odiada
Pois com as suas perucas
Cada uma de uma cor...
Jóias, roupas exóticas
Das Índias, Lisboa e Paris
A negra era obrigada
A ser recebida
Como uma grande senhora
Da corte
Do Reis Luís!
Da corte
Do Reis Luís!...
Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai!
@lavanya2world
great thing of this woman is that she kept singing her own good music against all odds. this is a lesson about being yourself all your life. she's not only an amazing singer, but i believe she has a great personality too. one can't sing so well without depth of heart. may you rest in peace Miriam Makeba.
@carlosayala8171
That's lovely
@traoremandy
tout le respect du monde entier a cette dame....MYRIAM MAKEBA!!!PAIX A TON AME....
@jungleafreeca1111
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
@AdrianoUrielSdosSantos
Adoro esta versão.
E amo a voz da grande dama Mirian Makeba 🌼
@elkina20
xica da silva --- me gusta la cansion y tambien la tele novela
@user-mi1vh4lo7r
❤❤❤
@genim686
filha de um portugues e de uma negra a escrava mestiça trocou a senzala pelos saloes nobres da mais distinta nobreza do arraial do tijuco hoje cidade de diamantina em minas gerais;francisca da silva mais conheçida como chica da silva se tornou praticamente uma rainha em pleno seculo XVIII
@ricardoamanda5919
Versão excelente! O instrumental é fantástico e a Miriam Makeba canta extraordinariamente. A versão dela e do Jorge Ben se equivalem na qualidade. Muito bom!
@lennisefuller5694
Much,Much love to you always Mama Africa..:-*