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Obituary: Miriam 'Mama Africa' Makeba | Obituary: Miriam 'Mama Africa' Makeba |
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Footage of Miriam Makeba in concert | Footage of Miriam Makeba in concert |
During her life Miriam Makeba, who has died aged 76, reached the heights of international success and fell into tragic lows many times. | During her life Miriam Makeba, who has died aged 76, reached the heights of international success and fell into tragic lows many times. |
"One minute I'm dining with presidents and emperors; the next I'm hitch-hiking," she told an interviewer in 2000. | "One minute I'm dining with presidents and emperors; the next I'm hitch-hiking," she told an interviewer in 2000. |
The Johannesburg club singer became a voice for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. | The Johannesburg club singer became a voice for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. |
Despite saying many times her songs were not political, she paid a high price for her activism. | Despite saying many times her songs were not political, she paid a high price for her activism. |
The South African government revoked her passport, effectively sending her into exile for 31 years. | The South African government revoked her passport, effectively sending her into exile for 31 years. |
After her 1968 engagement to Stokely Carmichael in 1968, a leader of the radical Black Panthers, American record labels dropped her and her performance bookings were cancelled. | After her 1968 engagement to Stokely Carmichael in 1968, a leader of the radical Black Panthers, American record labels dropped her and her performance bookings were cancelled. |
I picked up my passport. It was stamped 'Invalid'. They have done it, I told myself. They have exiled me Miriam Makeba "I just told the world the truth, and if the truth then becomes political, I can't do anything about that," she told culture website Salon.com in 2000. | I picked up my passport. It was stamped 'Invalid'. They have done it, I told myself. They have exiled me Miriam Makeba "I just told the world the truth, and if the truth then becomes political, I can't do anything about that," she told culture website Salon.com in 2000. |
Her career was also blighted by poor financial management, which meant she had to keep performing no matter what else was happening in her life. | Her career was also blighted by poor financial management, which meant she had to keep performing no matter what else was happening in her life. |
She said she couldn't cancel concerts - in 1998 she missed Mr Carmichael's funeral in Guinea because of her singing commitments. | She said she couldn't cancel concerts - in 1998 she missed Mr Carmichael's funeral in Guinea because of her singing commitments. |
Breakthrough | Breakthrough |
She was born in 1932 in Johannesburg to a sangoma, or traditional healer. | She was born in 1932 in Johannesburg to a sangoma, or traditional healer. |
Her father died when she was six. | Her father died when she was six. |
MIRIAM MAKEBA 1932: Born Johannesburg, South Africa1959: Stars in the jazz opera King Kong and anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, met Harry Belafonte1962: Performs at President Kennedy's birthday party1960: Barred from returning to South Africa1963: Testifies against apartheid at the United Nations1966: Becomes the first African woman to win a Grammy award1968: Marries Black Panther Stokely Carmichael and moves to Guinea1974: Performs as the warm-up for Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman1985: Moves to Brussels after death of her daughter1990: Returns to South Africa after personal request from Nelson Mandela2005: Begins a "farewell tour" of the world that lasts three years2008: Dies in Caserta, Italy following a concert, aged 76 In the 1950s she sang with township jazz bands but didn't make much money from playing clubs and bars. | MIRIAM MAKEBA 1932: Born Johannesburg, South Africa1959: Stars in the jazz opera King Kong and anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, met Harry Belafonte1962: Performs at President Kennedy's birthday party1960: Barred from returning to South Africa1963: Testifies against apartheid at the United Nations1966: Becomes the first African woman to win a Grammy award1968: Marries Black Panther Stokely Carmichael and moves to Guinea1974: Performs as the warm-up for Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman1985: Moves to Brussels after death of her daughter1990: Returns to South Africa after personal request from Nelson Mandela2005: Begins a "farewell tour" of the world that lasts three years2008: Dies in Caserta, Italy following a concert, aged 76 In the 1950s she sang with township jazz bands but didn't make much money from playing clubs and bars. |
Despite being a successful recording artist, she didn't receive any royalties from her records. | Despite being a successful recording artist, she didn't receive any royalties from her records. |
In her early career, she and her band were involved in a car crash and the police rescued only the white victims in the other car and left her and her band-mates on the road, where three of them died. | In her early career, she and her band were involved in a car crash and the police rescued only the white victims in the other car and left her and her band-mates on the road, where three of them died. |
The only money was in touring Africa, playing jazz clubs from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) to the Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo). | |
It wasn't until 1959 that she came to the world's notice. | It wasn't until 1959 that she came to the world's notice. |
She played a leading role in an all-black musical about South African boxing legend Ezekiel "King Kong" Dlamini. | She played a leading role in an all-black musical about South African boxing legend Ezekiel "King Kong" Dlamini. |
"That was the only time my mother saw me on stage," she told friend and journalist Gamal Nkrumah in 2001. | "That was the only time my mother saw me on stage," she told friend and journalist Gamal Nkrumah in 2001. |
"At one point in the play I am strangled and my mother jumped from her seat and screamed: 'No. You will not get away with murder. You cannot do this to my daughter.' Friends explained to her that this was not for real - that we were acting. But she made such a fuss. Everyone was so embarrassed. On stage my heart sank." | "At one point in the play I am strangled and my mother jumped from her seat and screamed: 'No. You will not get away with murder. You cannot do this to my daughter.' Friends explained to her that this was not for real - that we were acting. But she made such a fuss. Everyone was so embarrassed. On stage my heart sank." |
Also in the cast was trumpet player Hugh Masakela, who would become her second husband. Her first spouse was a South African policeman. | Also in the cast was trumpet player Hugh Masakela, who would become her second husband. Her first spouse was a South African policeman. |
In the same year she starred in the anti-apartheid drama-documentary Come back, Africa, about the lives of migrant workers living in Johannesburg's townships. | In the same year she starred in the anti-apartheid drama-documentary Come back, Africa, about the lives of migrant workers living in Johannesburg's townships. |
It was filmed around the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Sophiatown, partly with secret cameras and partly under the pretence of being a film about street music. | It was filmed around the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Sophiatown, partly with secret cameras and partly under the pretence of being a film about street music. |
The film was smuggled out of South Africa and shown at the Venice film festival, where she got permission to travel for the premiere. | |
From Venice she and Mr Masakela travelled to London. | From Venice she and Mr Masakela travelled to London. |
It was there while singing on the BBC radio show In Town Tonight that Makeba met Harry Belafonte, who would open up the road to world stardom for her. | It was there while singing on the BBC radio show In Town Tonight that Makeba met Harry Belafonte, who would open up the road to world stardom for her. |
The US Years | The US Years |
She became a massive hit in the US. People packed her concerts and she performed with stars. | She became a massive hit in the US. People packed her concerts and she performed with stars. |
Her blend of African rhythms and jazz in songs like Pata Pata appealed to both conventional audiences and the trendy jazz crowd. | Her blend of African rhythms and jazz in songs like Pata Pata appealed to both conventional audiences and the trendy jazz crowd. |
You must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine Harry Belafonte In 1962 she played at the US President John F Kennedy's legendary birthday party, where Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday. | You must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine Harry Belafonte In 1962 she played at the US President John F Kennedy's legendary birthday party, where Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday. |
But the South African government had hit back for her role in Come Back, Africa. | But the South African government had hit back for her role in Come Back, Africa. |
In 1960 she found they would not let her home to attend her mother's funeral. | In 1960 she found they would not let her home to attend her mother's funeral. |
"The man at the desk took my passport. He did not speak to me. He took a rubber stamp and slammed it down. Then he walked away. I picked up my passport. It was stamped 'Invalid'. 'They have done it,' I told myself. 'They have exiled me," she said in 2001. | "The man at the desk took my passport. He did not speak to me. He took a rubber stamp and slammed it down. Then he walked away. I picked up my passport. It was stamped 'Invalid'. 'They have done it,' I told myself. 'They have exiled me," she said in 2001. |
She was shocked by the racial tensions she found in 1960s America, and called it "apartheid by another name". | She was shocked by the racial tensions she found in 1960s America, and called it "apartheid by another name". |
But Harry Belafonte advised her to play a less confrontational role in the civil rights movement. | But Harry Belafonte advised her to play a less confrontational role in the civil rights movement. |
"He was a good teacher and looked after me," she told the Guardian earlier this year. | "He was a good teacher and looked after me," she told the Guardian earlier this year. |
"He said: 'You have such great talent, you must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine. It was good advice when I found myself speaking at the UN Committee Against Apartheid and then the UN General Assembly." | "He said: 'You have such great talent, you must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine. It was good advice when I found myself speaking at the UN Committee Against Apartheid and then the UN General Assembly." |
But her relationship with racial firebrand Stokely Carmichael ended her career in the US. | But her relationship with racial firebrand Stokely Carmichael ended her career in the US. |
Another exile | Another exile |
They moved to Guinea and were given a home by President Sekou Toure who paid her a salary to write and perform. | They moved to Guinea and were given a home by President Sekou Toure who paid her a salary to write and perform. |
She also worked as a UN representative for Guinea for many years, for which she was given the Dag Hammarskjold peace prize in 1986. | She also worked as a UN representative for Guinea for many years, for which she was given the Dag Hammarskjold peace prize in 1986. |
By then, stricken by grief at the death of her only child Bongi in 1985, she had left Guinea and moved to Brussels. Her relationship with Mr Carmichael had ended in 1973. | By then, stricken by grief at the death of her only child Bongi in 1985, she had left Guinea and moved to Brussels. Her relationship with Mr Carmichael had ended in 1973. |
Bongi died in childbirth but the child survived and Makeba has two grandchildren, Nelson Lumumba Lee and Zenzi Monique Lee, and three great-grandchildren Lindelani, Ayanda and Kwame. | |
In 1990 she returned to South Africa for the first time after Nelson Mandela asked her to come back. | In 1990 she returned to South Africa for the first time after Nelson Mandela asked her to come back. |
In her increasing old age "Mama Africa" as she was known, began suffering from osteoarthritis and shortage of breath. | In her increasing old age "Mama Africa" as she was known, began suffering from osteoarthritis and shortage of breath. |
She began a "farewell tour" in 2005 before retiring, but it stretched out for three years more. | She began a "farewell tour" in 2005 before retiring, but it stretched out for three years more. |
"Everybody keeps calling and saying: 'You have not come to say goodbye to us," she told an interviewer in May. | "Everybody keeps calling and saying: 'You have not come to say goodbye to us," she told an interviewer in May. |