Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) - Qongqothwane

Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 - 10 November 2008) was a South African singer and civil rights activist. The Grammy Award winning artist is often referred to as Mama Afrika.

Her voice stirred hopes of freedom among millions in her country with music that was banned by the apartheid authorities she struggled against

"I am not a political singer," she said. "I dont know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life, and in South Africa we always sang about what was happening to us — especially the things that hurt us."

Many people do not realize that Mama Afrika was not only banned in Apartheid South Africa, but she was black balled in the United States due to her marriage to Trinidadian born, Black Activist, Stokely Carmichael. "It was not a ban from the government; it was a cancellation by people who felt I should not be with Stokely because he was a rebel to them," Ms. Makeba said. "I didnt care about that. He was somebody I loved, who loved me, and it was my life." The couple then moved to Guinea. Makeba served as a Guinean delegate to the United Nations, for which she won the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize in 1986.


She was married four times, but to the day she died, she never gave up on love.

Thank you, Mama Afrika

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Music

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• Makeba
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[mairead92]

what album can i find this particular recording?

[synapsecracklepop]

@mairead92 This was published in Africa, and I got it from the archives of an individual with an extensive Mama Africa collection. This song was on her first American LP, I believe, (very well known), but I can't tell you for sure, or the name of the LP. She was introduced on the U.S. circuit by Mr Belafonte, and I believe he featured her on one of his LPs. You might look at Discography website. It has e v e r y t h i n g .

[bvscfanatic]

If I had to name the top ten singers of the twentieth century for this entire planet, there is no doubt that Miriam Makeba's name would be HIGH on that list. That voice was so distinct and so unique and so powerful that it overrode any and all barriers of language, culture or race. Rest in peace, Mama Africa!!! Thank you for all that you gave us with that voice!!!

[p221072]

Great tune!

Igqira lendlela nguqo ngqothwane ...

[shumba18]

THIS IS THE SOUND OF BEAUTIFUL! I CRANK THIS SO LOUD IN MY CAR AT HOME! GOD IF ITS IN YOUR WILL BLESS AFRICA! 

[MsSMz101]

thank you for such a good copy

[doUcare4music]

THIS WONDERFUL SINGER , IS ALREADY  IN MY FAVOURITS LIST... FOR A LONG TIME NOW.. SHE IS AMAZING XXX

[jrick130]

@mairead92

Harry Belafonte's Live at Carnegie Hall. My Parents had the album, I actually heard this for years...

[MsPrincessaj]

@mairead92

Greetings. This song is found on the CD entitled "Mama Afrika" - I think you can get it through Amazon, or through a CD/music store that has an extensive African or international collection.

[wiim2000]

The US recording was an album called "the voice of Africa." It's available on Amazon.com

[MrRichyou]

@mairead92 Thanks a gazillion for posting this soulful African song. It so emotional

[joepinner]

@mairead92 You can hear this song on the Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall album. I think you can still get it from Amazon in CD format. Good luck.

[joepinner]

@mairead92 This song is on the Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall album. You can still get it in CD form from Amazon I believe. Beautiful song, and she was a beautiful lady.

[kuj4z]

what a catchy song