The Heritage of South Africa and Africa through music: A Tribute to Miriam Makeba.

By:Bakang Khunou

Miriam Makeba was born on 4th March 1932. She later became a South African singing sensation and an unforgettable voice of Africa. Through her music, Miriam Makeba represented Black Dignity and became the voice of anti apartheid South Africa. She used her music as a tool to expose the oppressive government while on the other hand, her music represented the heritage and the cultural diversities of Africa. The deep lyrical content in her songs narrated many real African stories of heroines and heroes of Africa, Soweto Blues and Aluta Continua gives a true sense and meaning of events that took place in our beloved Country and Continent.

In 1963 Makeba gave a moving speech, a conscious anti apartheid speech in the United States. In that speech she pleaded with the world leaders to take a stand against the oppressive government of South Africa and further requested that the protection of women and children be made a priority as weapons or arms were a threat to their lives. Miriam Makeba became a force to recon with and through her music she stood against the inequalities and segregation endured by fellow Africans, in America, in Africa and in South Africa her birth home. Following the speech she gave, Makeba’s citizenship was revoked and she was burned from returning home.

Makeba never lost hope of ever landing on her home soil. In an interview she had with the “Queen of talk show” Felicia Mabuza Suttle, she said “I never lost hope of going back home, I know I will go back home and if I stopped thinking like that, I might as well lay down and die”. As a strong and determined young woman, she held on to hope and she believed in her POWER to BECOME. She called for unity between black people, that they should stand firm and fight against oppression and discrimination. To Makeba, Black Lives Mattered.

Miriam was driven by her Will-Power and firm belief in the Principles and Values of Humanity and Black Dignity. Through her vocal strength, she was recognised and was respected as a woman being and an African Pillar who used her voice to represent the oppressed and the marginalised societies. She was named ” Mama Africa” by the first Black President of South Africa post apartheid, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and this is what he said ” She was South Africa’s first lady of song and so richly deserved the title Mama Africa, she was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours.”

The legendary Miriam Makeba, the queen of “click” song (Uqoqothwane) and Pata-Pata, songs that later inspired emerging singing South African Artists such as Bongo Muffin and Simphiwe Dana who later gave a beautiful rendition of her song (Malaika). Through her music Miriam Makeba conquered, her lyrical content was infused with fun and true stories of South Africa. Her music continues to embrace the origin of Black African Heritage. She echoed hope and collective prosperity during hard times in South Africa. Aluta Continua is a song that recongnised African countries and further encourages Blacks to continue to fight against the struggle. (THE ECONOMIC STRUGGLE and the broader InEqualities our LIFETIME).

Makeba founded her foundation: The Miriam Makeba Foundation which aims at improving the lives of young girls. Makeba loved children, she passed on at the age of 76. Africa continues to reflect and dance to the legacy she left behind. Mama Africa, her legacy lives on.

” Girls are the future mothers of our society, and it is important that we focus on their well-being” Miriam Makeba

“I see other black women imitate my style , which is not a style at all, but just letting our hair be itself. They call it the Afro look“ Miriam Makeba

” I DO NOT SING POLITICS, I MERELY SING THE TRUTH“ Miriam Makeba