Miriam Makeba - The Click Song 1966

[27rastaqueen]

i love this song

[shorelineboy]

great love it

[sallumusa]

one and only miriam makeba.. RIP..

[DilshanSena]

spine-chilling is the word!

[idyouse]

She was an amazing artist....

[auntiesanity]

Genius.  Such amazing musicality. How we miss her.

[TheSonny1114]

just love miriam makeba this song brings back so many childhood memories

[yulejacks0]

the greatest lady of them all, a mother a sister and a free woman thank you

[bScoutke]

Whaa---? This song is fuckin' sweet! :D

[annagizzygirl]

Beautiful song loved it. Amazing the buety that camw from this shocks me

[WarTornButStrong]

R.I.P. to an incredible talent.

[KittenToez]

RIP

[shumba18]

i like it :)

[canario7600]

sehr schön .....wir vermissen dich Mama Afrika

[HarunoSakurafan91]

love it!



[zeTruth]

Absolutely stunning... the song is amazing, really great. I just hope others get to experience such amazing music.

[patamola69]

the crowd is so dull!! they dnt evn clap along wif her! great song n shes so beautiful!

[WonderGirl732]

May she finally find rest in her after life knowing that Apartheid is gone...she is smiling from her restful place and nodding her head...love you Miriam!

[blacksquirrel09]

Woo! This was mentioned in my linguistics textbook, haha. Just how easy the clicking is for native speakers is amazing, haha

[lunaglory09]

my dads FAVORITE song!

[Quiteness]

Its hard to get used to that click noise. I want to learn the language, I have never heard it being sung in before, well there is a video of a Khoisan woman singing to her child how to count the numbers on youtube. But I do not think that is the same language...

[Blessedb8]

So Cool!

[Dimo80]

coooooooooooooooooooool!

[Blabrabo]

Great Xhosa skills

[naijagurll]

Mama Africa!

[Lisa246861]

Love it! RIP Mama Africa!

[andrestrydom3]

brilliant !

[candelCAKE]

these clicksounds are amazing.. it sounds as if there were two persons singing, because it's not imagenable for my brain that all that is just one person ;)

miriam makeba is just great.. too sad i "found" her after her death.. so i have no chance to see her live...

[tbrnet2b]

INCREDIBLE! Thanks for posting RaynerJM!

Does anyone know how to do that ... I mean how long does that take to learn for Pete's sake?!? Thanks! Juli ;)

[SucceedMascot]

Beauty in apearance; beauty in voice; beauty in performance. Thanks for your everlasting voice, and may your soul rest in peace Miriam Makeba

[henrybrice86]

Wonderful, she has such a great voice, and I love the clicking letters. It is incredible to see how a language can have not only completely different words but completely different phonology!

[TheImpundulu]

RIP to this old duck she was a legend

[lzkoenig]

Wow! I am so glad I have found out about Miriam Makeba. I remember being a very little girl listening and dancing to Pata,Pata. I recently heard the tune in a car commercial. The memories flooded my mind and I had to find out what song it is. Unfortunately, she has passed, but her music lives on for people like me to rediscover, discover, enjoy-

[brwmeister]

I only hope that things like this are preserved and never lost, for the sake of good music in the near future.

[Switchscene]

Growing up as a kid in S.A this song was always the perfect embodiment of African spirit. Regardless of race, of culture or status, everyone knew "the click song" and would sing their rendition of it (often with horribly butchered "clicks") haha. RIP to one of Africa's greats.

[tanpopo03]

I wish I could learn to do the click sounds ^^.

Love this song!

[pieterhildebrand]

@tanpopo03 Just suck your tongue to your temple and pull it away .

[chipmunx]

Well, chances are you already know how to do one click sound. Can you say "tsk-tsk"?

The rest of the learning comes from practicing where you place your tongue.

Don't worry, you can do it. I used to be incapable of performing implosives, and now I can do one of those! If I can learn, so can you!

[instrodude94]

@tanpopo03 practice practice and practice and you will be able to master it this is the xhosa language

[UrsiBear1]

Immortal, Makeba!!!  Yebo!

[AndreKugland]

Much harder than the clicks is coming back from 6/8 to 4/4 effortlessly like they do...

[toeg1]

That was fantastic. What a song!!!

[thecoffee011]

Excellent

[Nickoliten]

awesome!

[shukucci]

can it be chance that i hear this song today? exactly 1 year after the death of Miriam Makeba?

[landacoco]

That was the most awesomest song I've ever heard!

[holmen240]

@landacoco are you loco, omg ?

[landacoco]

This song is incredible because the clicks that are apart of the language the lyrics were written in are syncopated with the rhythm. I have never heard a song quite like this and though I made my original comment in a jocular sense it nonetheless conveys my true opinion of this piece. I am awe struck at the talent of the writer of this piece as well as the talent of the singer herself. Rather than making me crazy I believe that makes me a well rounded lover of music.

[UndigestedChildren]

im studying her for music.

she's outstanding n_n

[candikking]

could someone please upload "A Piece of Ground" ---amazing, song from her.....cant find the full version anywhere:(

[wildflwr1]

omg, wen i was 12 or 13 sumwere in dat range i used to be in a dance class nd this is one of the songs the dance instructor taught us nd also pata pata....i think it was 2 guys nd a lady,dont rembr the lady name but i think da guys name was pual nd egburt..funny name...egburt.lol yes we used to make fun of his name but e was nice.....n e ways this was in jamaica at the rollington town primary school....it was so much fun

[iTerpy]

As a little girl, this song used to make me giggle - my mom had her album. As an adult, I smile and know Miriam has touched our hearts and brings joy to wherever she may be.

[enytaz]

MY girl got me to listen to Miriam! and now I have to listen to her daily ... ahahah  I love this.. So relaxing wow

[MissEvielicious]

I saw her in her last concert in Germany, Africafestival... awesome lady.. great spirit.. R.I.P

[Sergei91]

My all time favorite !!

[nofishonfriday]

Is it Xhosa ?

[pestlett]

Yes it is.

Igqira lendlela nguqongqothwane

Igqira lendlela kuthwa nguqongqothwane

Sebeqabele gqithapha bathi nguqongqothwane

Sebeqabele gqithapha bathi nguqongqothwane.

The diviner of the roadways is the knock-knock beetle

The diviner of the roadways is said to be the knock-knock beetle

It has passed up the steep hill, the knock-knock beetle

It has passed up the steep hill, the knock-knock beetle

That was from wikipedia's page on isixhosa

[Bootakill]

Maria is dead ?

from BOOTAKILL to France

[mukaba1]

yes my brother. she is die there are some months. The world called she "MAMA AFRIKA" she sing PATA PATA old song.

[sugminkukmannen]

R.I.P M.J.

[markbe777]

Totally Love the shoulder at 0:10! It makes mine move to the rhythm aswell!

R.I.P Mama Afrika, May your music live on always!

[kapajita9]

tyuvityo olady siyakukhumbula oladdddddY!!!!ekasi!

[creativegem1]

LOVE IT!<3 I traveled to South Africa and learned of this song. I am so happy to hear of it again! <3

[blacknosugarnocream]

RIP Miriam. Thanks for bringing us this invaluable video of her joyful singing!

To all the bigots masquerading as intellectuals (talking about pentatonic scales, blah blah blah... ): take off your hood and openly embrace your special brand crazy. Stop hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and .25 cent words to spread your message of superiority. It doesn't work with anyone except your fellow supremacists!

[Dracopol]

Not quite authentic as singing, since Africans only started with the pentatonic scale pre-contact. I.e. if starting in the key of C, they only had the notes C, D, E, G, and A. I'm hearing Western inventions like bridges and F and F# and a relative second chord, built around the skeleton of the original primitive music.

Also, she was unfamiliar with microphones, moving away caused volume drop-offs.

[AuntyTala]

and?

[johnnyguitar1st]

Its good to know that i havn't heard it all.

This is pure quality,i wish i knew what she was singing and i wished it lasted a little longer.

Thanks for posting.

[anidnmeno]

Igqira lendlela nguqongqothwane / Igqira lendlela kuthwa nguqongqothwane x2

Sebeqabele gqithapha nguqongqothwane x4

Igqira lendlela nguqongqothwane x4

Sebeqabele gqithapha nguqongqothwane x4

Igqira lendlela nguqongqothwane / Igqira lendlela kuthwa nguqongqothwane x2

Sebeqabele gqithapha nguqongqothwane x4

[anidnmeno]

more or less

[acla9000]

I remember this song!! She recorded it in the album "Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall"! She'll be greatly missed... Thanks for posting!

[cocochanelleke]

Thanks a million for posting,

RaynerJM.

[cocochanelleke]

Goodness rest her brilliant soul.

RIP

Miriam Makeba.

[carles83]

a legend!

[aklseshnz]

Praise Jah for Mama Africa....you are a true angel of Jah....til we meet again xox

[j1008h]

She was an inspiration to all women, may she rest in peace!

[buildsbest]

Some people are made to be great.

What a talented woman she was.

She managed to have her music played to a very diverse audience worldwide.

I loved this song when I was a toddler because it was full of warmth and vitality. This was probably the beginning of my interest in African music.

Thanks to all the 'world' musicians who use their music to liberate others.

Your liberation becomes ours too. Oppression can only enslave the oppressor.

[Twiladdict]

Wonderful language, I think it's quite difficult to learn... Beautiful song, I love it!

[postcardlanguage]

this (click) is a (click) great v(click)ideo

[laguarradelbarrio]

When the South African government stripped Miriam of her nationality and denied her a passport, TEN countries made her an honorary citizen. I think she is the only woman in history that had ten diffrerent passports. This woman fought against apartheid until its end. RIP

[Lanny615]

@laguarradelbarrio Thanks for the info, i did not know she had 10 passports. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.

[califgirl101]

Wow! What an wonderfully talented young lady Ms. Makeba is. Now, managementr will probably agree with me. I honestly feel that race, color, or anything of that nature should not have to do with what you beleive and desire of yours and our back rounds and so forth. It is not right that people have to use hurtful words just because they believe they're better than someone. Not true! I say only this, keep the faith for what is rightfully yours. Thank you very much for this intresting video! :)

[Dorje8l8l]

Such a beautiful and classy lady. A real woman. I am greatful I am now discovering her and her music.

[xXKitsunekoXx]

She's lovely~

[managementr]

there is something about the african language, when i hear it i feel like it is apart of me, i can't speak it but i love the songs the anthems. i want to visit africa before i pass on. i am a Jamaican so may be its my african heritage why i feel this way about african music. thats cool right?

[shodapad07]

May Be Right - managementr

[managementr]

thanks, i suspect i may be right

[haitipi]

You are Jamaican, yet you think Africa is a Country? hate to tell you, but most in South Africa would see you as foreign as an Indian or person from the Middle East. I learned that when I was a kid and my dreams of 'Panafricanism' were promptly sniffed out. It doesn't exist except maybe in the USA, Canada, or Europe. Ironic, isn't it?

[edingsteve1]

Calm down brother. There is no such thing as a perfect world where everybody love each other. We are all humans, blacks, white, red. There has always been conflicts between people of the same race, even clan! Nonetheless, if you want to understand yourself, you always have to return to the cradle of your culture. As a Jamaican or Haitian, you can't deny your Africaness. By acknowledging that fact, you will be at peace with yourself. Living in a vacuum is more painful.

[managementr]

thanks for those words, but i accept my culture both jamaican and as an african. bless

[acucello]

Sigh... it makes me nostalgic: I heard her in Johannesburg, singing this song, and it was a wonderful evening...

[infobulb]

well....9th wonder of the world

[danceartjoy]

what/who is No. 8?

[Cydoli]

Awesome!

[cosmicincognito]

I get goosebumps watching her sing! She's timeless! A woman with elegance talent & great sense for rhythm! I wish I had a chance hearing her live.

[dzpstar55]

rip, great singer

[AenigmaVitae]

How can she pronounce that click? She's great!

[7Tremere]

She's singing in a xhosa or maybe zulu language.

[zakes360]

it's xhosa. xhosa has much more clicks than zulu.

[pinkdoobie]

The song is Xhosa. Her mother was Swazi and her father Xhosa. The various clicks are produced by creating a vacuum between the tongue and various parts of the mouth, and then releasing it.

[branchwater7]

rest is peace, mother makeba. wake up glory.

[ImpatiensWalleriana]

Wonderful!! Could hear it all day.

[marie2214]

Incredible

[marlenewaal]

A wonderfull person a lovely mother

All is love and paeca.

Great love to Zenze, Lumumba, Lindelani, and all.

Aunty Marlène Waal

[Masino93]

other name of this song is qongqothwane in qhich q sound is pronounced like click...however beautiful song and fantastic mama africa miriam makeba...we love you!

[Bisidimo]

Great music by great African legend

rest in Peace

[xbelitaa]

Miriam Makeba, rest in peace ♥

[Moforofosofo]

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba

[jonathanorgill]

Xhosa, approx 8 million speakers, one of the 11 official languages of the RSA

[navideeenator]

yeah she is clicking..my friends parents know hwo to speak that language..i thing is a language spoken is outh africa

i wonder how hard it is :S

[bigjoestatus]

is she clicking with her mouth?

[rbryanh]

Yes, and not just a single click either. The Xhosa language is spoken by about a fifth of South Africans, and the word itself begins with one of 15 discrete click consonants that the language uses. It's very difficult for those who didn't grow up with the language to distinguish the various clicks, and one of the purposes of the click songs (Ms. Makeba recorded two) is to teach children.

[Atomikguy]

born in usa Pennsylvania 1972 you inspire me. I will share you!

[frozenvenom54]

Mirriam your music continues to inspire the nation forever. rest in peace mama afrika

[Palmenmaedchen]

ich lerne grade english linguistics :-) und es ist mal eine willkommene abwechslung!

[sal204]

Lots of love to Miriam's family at this time.

Sally

[AlexNuffSaid]

she was a friend of my granny...

they used to sing when she was back in johannesburg. woow

[edithhead]

the loving and amazing Miriam Makeba!!! She's now an angel taking care of us!!

[elquebecomagico]

this is amazing ! i love it, i'm going to watch it again !

[abbedonk]

absolutely fantastic :D

[BriannaRenee16]

wow this is sooo cool i didnt even know there was music like this!!

[missile53]

what a great comment. I hope you'ere a young person who likes this music. Your generation is deprived of good music if you are one!

[NorthwestProgressive]

Miriam Makeba's music can truly be said to have changed the world. How cool is that? I hope the increased awareness of her in the wake of her passing inspires young people to change their world too.

[buildsbest]

You might enjoy looking at other African music.

I bet you'd enjoy African drumming. There are music festivals that run workshops. There'll be workshops near you...look up African drum classes on the internet. Blessings

[TheSaintOfSundby]

Sadly, the world have now lost this marvelous personality. Rest in peace, Miriam - you are missed ♥

[soalakahla]

re leboha mme mariam for being what u'v been to us thus an icon a mother to all.u robale ka khotso mohau wa molimo.Lesotho lea u rata.

[salvadoraugustus]

woooooooow

[Mbira0racle]

Thank you. You will remain in our hearts and minds forever...Blessings...

[vergiber]

rest in peace miriam makeba !!

[Saphanbaal]

I only just found out about Miriam Makeba through my linguistics class (we're looking at click languages, of which !Xhosa is one). I am so sorry that I was not aware of her earlier--and now I need to go track down her music. She was an amazing woman.

[jstuttgart]

I knew of her long before phonetics class, but when i walked in on my professor playing it full blast in the class it was very good to hear indeed.

[samira2710]

I majored in Linguistics too and knew of the music of various cultures. But remember taking courses in phonetics, syntax and all the rest and coming in contact with the most fascinating languages. Loved Miriam Makeba. She is another legend who'll be missed.

[ZuluMuntu]

I have always argued the point that in terms of South African struggle for freedom,Miriam Makeba was even more powerful than Nelson Mandela.Rest in peace Mama Afrika.

[buildsbest]

Yes Miriam did make a difference to sharing her culture with others and therby helping in the struggle. As did Peter Gabrial with his song Biko, about the death of activist Steve Biko in a Jo'burg jail. Nelson mandela did so much to help, giving all his energy to the cause while staying very honerable. Integrity aways wins in the end. Bless all who strive for justice.

[Dracopol]

Steve Biko was a C-student.

[kkipp57]

thank you so much for posting this great video. it's hard to believe it is from 42 years ago. she was a great woman!

[setzhuert]

may god bless her, she was an amazing woman!

[renaci88]

Excelentes videos que nos permiten apreciar y disfrutar del talento y la gran calidad de esta bella dama como lo fue Miriam Makeba. Paz a sus restos, y siempre la recordaremos como una gran mujer, luchadora, que nos brindo con su arte y calidad humana

[BilliHeathMusic]

To: RaynerJM

Miriam Makeba - The Click Song 1966 I wish I could see her perform The Click Song" ("Qongqothwane" in Xhosa) one more time. I am so glad after 30 years of exile; she lived to see the freedom of your people from Apartheid and was able to go back home to a freed South Africa! Mama Africa the world thanks you for your songs, singing, dancing and fighting spirit! We will miss you! God bless you and keep you, Ms. Miriam Makeba RIP.

[gouthamc]

Damn. That seems pretty hard to pronounce. Still, awesome.

RIP.

[arisonlynnette]

she was amazing..rip mama africa

[Renaissanceman86]

God bless

[axedith]

You are Africa...thank god you lived to see a son of Africa become President of the now United states...thank you for so many years of song & peace

edith

[specialkayday]

Rest in Peace Mama Africa. You will be greatly missed. Your in GOD's hands now.

[MassaiMara99]

Mama Afrika - thank you for all...we miss you!

[nikichindesigns]

Rest in Peace !! I will always remember you and your wonderful music. It brings back wonderful childhood memories.

[kingcapcobra]

r.i.p....your music lives on

[adebayoilori]

Mama Africa you will be greatly missed.

[missaretha]

I didn`t know her, til a few minutes ago. I just red an article about her death and was so surprised, that I`ve never heard about her before...!!!Amazing woman!!

[boesman1974]

R.I.P Mama. It's only sad that all to often we only realize what we have lost when it's too late.

[DjFIRED]

Oh My god !! We'll miss you and your amazing voice !! Rest in peace and god bless you Mama Africa !

[tanyasheree]

RIP mama Africa the greatest songstress of our time,God bless you forever.

[heymaria123]

let us embed man

[davidsudest]

peua de satin d'une femme plantureuse : superbe chanteuse, belle chanson d'une sud africaine noire...devenue française !

Tribute to you Miriam !

[theahaoho]

One of the first songs I can remember was Pata Pata and the Xhosa Click Song - I'm so sad ...

Have a good time, whereever you are now!

[malone22]

since FRANCE ... we still love you forever and I never forget what you done for aparted ... love you like my own mother Miriam ... rest in peace and god bless you ...

[kamaliyah]

may you rest in peace mama

[alanslais]

Dear MAMA AFRICA, you will be greatly missed. Your music and good works will liveon for ever and continue to inspire posterity. THANK YOU, RIP.

[IRAAuthority]

Mama Afrika- R.I.P. I wear my hair in it's natually beautiful form because of you. Pata Pata A-hihi ha mama.

[KANDIERO2]

R.I.P Mama Africa, you inspired many people. What a loss

[gnrzulu]

thanks mama

[Windhoek91]

Rest in Peace, Mama!

[albabyluv7]

Thank You! Mama...

[Outzballer]

May her soul RIP. We will always remember you our lovely MAMA AFRICA!!!

[Outzballer]

May her soul RIP. we will always remember u our lovely MAMA AFRICA!!!

[UrienRheged]

Hamba Gathle

[ikumijozi]

rest in peace, mama afrika...we'll always remember your voice and legend you left within us.

[samdon815]

Saw her live at Birdland in the early 60s. Great show.

[aTumbleweed]

Rest in peace... ; (

[peterbza]

like so many of us who are from and were born in Southern Africa , my life has always been enriched by the music and songs of Miriam Makeba.

rest in peace Mama Africa

[Soulkats]

I wish you still sing & dance, and that you'll still protect your children from heaven!

Be blessed, et merci for the powerful messages!!!

[kingofthegames95]

Rest in peace yu are our Mama Africa

[JournoBunny]

You fought for your country and your people and you will always be remembered for that Mama Afrika ;)

[lallaplotter]

You have sung your last song for Roberto Saviano (an hero like you who risks his life because of Camorra and Mafia)...Thanks Mama Africa...Italy is thankful to you.

[lizbetfree]

RIP Mama Afrika

[zalijo]

rest in peace, mama africa! we gonna miss u so much...

[agitazioni]

ciao Miriam

[misterk213]

I cant belive it. I will miss her sooooo much!!! Mama Africa, y did u have to go?

[copsarecomin]

greatest everrrr

[hoshja]

ekse this number mos remind a man of that BIC advert in south africa,then they start mos off with that pens sien jy..hahaha jorr bring back memories ne

thats beutiful! ill neva forget it.