Contents
Miriam Makeba
Taking South African music to international audiences while opposing apartheid.
An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba · Pata Pata
- Born
- 4 March 1932
- Birthplace
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Died
- 9 November 2008
More people
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba was a South African singer and campaigner widely known as Mama Africa.
Early life
Johannesburg childhood
Grew up under segregation and began singing young.
Professional beginnings
Performed with South African groups including the Manhattan Brothers.
Career
- 1950s
South African career
Built a reputation in performance and recording.
- 1959 onward
Exile
Travelled abroad and was prevented from returning by the apartheid authorities.
- 1960s–1980s
International music
Recorded and toured while speaking against apartheid.
- 1990
Return
Returned to South Africa as political conditions changed.
Selected work
An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba
A collaboration that won a Grammy.
Pata Pata
Her recording became an international hit.
Anti-apartheid testimony
Used public platforms, including the United Nations, to speak against apartheid.
Beyond music
Life in exile
Lived in several countries, including Guinea.
Family
Her daughter Bongi also became a singer.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Recording Academy: awards ↗Photo: Paul Weinberg. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
