A Grammy Award-winning South African singer, Miriam Makeba, known as Mama Africa is an inspiration to musicians all over the world. She spent a half-century in fighting racism and upholding justice and peace.
Born in South Africa in 1932, Miriam began her musical career by joining a school choir. She then performed on local gigs by the mid-1950s. After a decade, she finally made her name throughout South Africa.
Her involvement in the documentary film Come Back, Africa, gave her a break. Harry Belafonte was attracted to the film that he supported Miriam to gain entry to the United States of America. Her appearance at John F. Kennedy’s birthday embarked the beginning of a successful singing and recording career.
Her first recorded song was “PataPata”, which was released in 1957 in South Africa and in the U.S. in 1967. She is also popular for the songs “The Click Song” and “Malaika,” and for presenting to the West a number of Xhosa, Zulu and Swahil songs.
Her marriage to Stokely Carmichael in 1968 caused controversy in the United States, so she decided to settle in Guinea. There, she continued to fight the white Apartheid regime in her native land.
Miriam was very true to her South African musical roots while fighting for what she believed for even until her last breath due to a heart attack on November 9, 2008in Castel Volturno, Italy, at the age of 76.
Watch video of interesting Facts about Miriam Makeba.
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