African Roots and Rhythms: Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
Without question, Miriam Makeba was Africa’s first superstar. She was an international sensation who paved the way for many African musical artists to come. She was an activist and humanitarian who was both penalized and recognized for her work. Her legacy is truly immense.
Makeba was born in Johannesburg to Swazi and Xhosa parents. Her mother was a traditional healer and domestic worker. Shortly after giving birth, her mother was arrested and jailed for brewing homemade beer. Makeba spent her first six months in jail with her mother. Her father died when she was still a young child, which forced her to find employment as a domestic worker and nanny. Her family was musical, with both her mother and father playing traditional and western instruments. Her older brother collected records and taught Makeba the songs. She sang in both school and church choirs. She married when she was only 17 and had one child. The marriage was an abusive one however, and her husband ended up leaving her when she developed breast cancer.
She began her music career by singing with a group called the Cuban Brothers, singing covers of popular American songs. She went on to sing with a jazz band called the Manhattan Brothers, singing both South African and African American popular songs. Her first recording was made with this group. Later, she was one of the founding members of the Skylarks, an all-female group. Her successes with these groups led to a lead in a South African jazz opera, where she met her next husband, the musician Hugh Masakela. She was also cast in a film titled Come Back, Africa. The film was an anti-apartheid blend of documentary and fiction and had to be made in secret. She received international attention for her small role, and the filmmaker arranged for her to go to the Venice Film Festival where it won an award. Her international musical career was then set in motion. While performing in London, she met Harry Belafonte, who helped catapult her recognition and career further. She moved to New York and appeared on The Steve Allen Show and performed in clubs around the city.
While in New York, Makeba learned that her mother had died and tried to return to South Africa. However, the South African government revoked her passport as a result of her involvement with the film Come Back, Africa which was seen to be critical of its apartheid stance. The country banned her music from being played. This was the starting point of her activism.
Her career in the US was on a high. Time magazine named her the “most exciting new singing talent to appear in many years” and Newsweek compared her to Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. She recorded several albums and came to know and work with Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone. She was also very popular in Europe, and Belafonte encouraged her to include songs from other countries in her repertoire.
She testified before the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid about the effects of the system and called for economic sanctions and an arms embargo against South Africa. As a result, she was banned from the country and would be in exile for 31 years. Her resolve in the civil rights, anti-apartheid, as well as Black Power and Black Consciousness movements strengthened. In 1968, she married Stokely Carmichael, a leader in the Black Panther Party. Her popularity waned as a result of this union, leading the couple to move to Guinea. She didn’t return to the US for nearly 20 years. She continued to perform throughout Africa, Europe and Asia during this time.
In 1986, she was introduced to Paul Simon, later touring with him to promote his album Graceland. After the end of apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s subsequent release from prison in 1990, Makeba returned to South Africa.
Makeba continued recording and performing throughout the 1990’s. She was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. She continued advocating for human rights as well as children suffering from HIV/Aids, child soldiers, and the physically disabled. She created the Makeba Centre for Girls and set up the Miriam Makeba Foundation. She announced her retirement in 2005, but continued to perform until her death in 2008.
Among her many awards and honors are a Grammy (the first African to be awarded one), the Polar Music Prize, the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize and the Otto Hahn Peace Medal. She has been named as one of the 100 greatest South Africans and named 1967’s “woman of the year” by Time magazine in 2020.
This is a video of her performing her biggest hit in her native Xhosa. However, Makeba felt it was her most insignificant song and preferred her songs that highlighted political and social justice themes.
This song is from her album with Harry Belafonte.
She sings this song in Portuguese, one of the seven languages she spoke.
Love the vintage vibe of this song.
I love this video of Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon singing one of my favorite songs from his Graceland album.
For more information about Miriam Makeba, go to the following websites:
https://theconversation.com/the-legacy-of-iconic-singer-miriam-makeba-and-her-art-of-activism-178230
