Miriam Makeba performing her last concert in Naples, Italy on Sunday, November 9, 2008. She joined the ancestors after a long career as an internationally recognized artists from South Africa.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
'MAMA AFRICA' DIES
Legendary singer Miriam Makeba, who died aged 76 on Sunday, simply wanted to leave a memory of being a "very good old lady", she once said.
Judged by the flood of tributes following her collapse after a performance in Italy on Sunday night, the woman fondly known as "Mama Africa" will certainly be remembered for more than what she wished for.
"She was indeed a legend and an amazing talent and it was an honour and privilege to have worked with her on the film, 'Sarafina!'," said international filmmaker Anant Singh.
"We acknowledge the huge role she played in bringing global
awareness to African music during the time she lived abroad and she will always be remembered as the mother of African music. Long live the spirit of Mama Africa."
South Africa's foreign ministry said Makeba died at the Veneto Verde hospital near Naples after performing at the Castel Volturno.
"One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Miriam Makeba, has ceased to sing. Miriam Makeba ... died performing what she did best -an ability to communicate a positive message through the art of singing," said South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
"Throughout her life, Mama Makeba communicated a positive message to the world about the struggle of the people of South Africa and the certainty of victory over the dark forces of apartheid colonialism through the art of song," said Dlamini-Zuma.
Makeba, whose most famous hits included Pata Pata, The Click Song (Qongqothwane in Xhosa) and Mailaka, died after taking part in a concert for Roberto Saviano, a writer threatened with death by the Mafia, an Italian news agency reported.
"She collapsed as she was leaving the stage. She received paramedic assistance and was rushed to hospital where she unfortunately passed away," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"On behalf of our President Kgalema Motlanthe, our ambassadors and high commissioners stationed abroad, management and staff of the department of foreign affairs, we convey our heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family," said Dlamini-Zuma.
Makeba, affectionately known as Mama Africa, sang about Africa's struggles for independence.
"People gave me that name. At first I said to myself: 'Why do they want to give me that responsibility, carrying a whole continent?' Then I understood that they did that affectionately. So I accepted. I am Mama Africa," she told AFP in an interview in 2005.
The African National Congress in Gauteng paid tribute to her, with spokesman Nkenke Kekana saying she was "an inspiration to many, many activists during the dark days of apartheid."
"She remains an icon of our struggle," said Kekana.
The National Democratic Convention said her "memory and music lives on in our souls" while the KwaZulu-Natal arts and culture MEC Weziwe Thusi said she was a "beacon of hope for the oppressed masses of this country".
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa said she was an example to the younger generation.
"The young generation can learn from the discipline and respect that Miriam Makeba embraced throughout her life.
"She was rated among the leading proponents of change in South Africa. We have lost a true role model whose work will always be remembered," said Holomisa.
Miriam Zenzi Makeba was born in Johannesburg on March 4, 1932.
According to Wikipedia, her mother was a Swazi sangoma and her father, who died when she was six, was a Xhosa.
As a child, she attended a training institute in Pretoria for eight years where she first started singing.
Her professional career kicked off in the 1950s with the Manhattan Brothers, before she formed her own group, The Skylarks.
She grabbed international attention in 1959 when she starred in the anti-apartheid documentary Come Back, Africa.
After that, she went to London where she met Harry Belafonte. He helped her get entry to the United States, where she released many of her famous songs.
She received a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording in 1966 with Harry Belafonte for An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba.
The album was about black South Africans living under apartheid.
When she tried to return to South Africa, she discovered that her passport had been revoked.
She testified against apartheid before the United Nations in 1963.
She was married to musician Hugh Masekela and Trinidadian civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael, who was also the leader of the Black Panthers.
When her only daughter, Bongi Makeba, died in 1985, she moved to Brussels.
Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela persuaded her to return to South Africa in 1990.
She was always optimistic about post-apartheid South Africa, even though she acknowledged that it came with its own problems.
"We have only had 11 years of democracy but we are moving, we are moving forward faster than many countries who have been independent a long, long time before. We all have to do it together, all of us, found ourselves this country regardless [whether] we are black, white or whatever," she said in the interview with AFP.
Asked who the next Makeba would be, she replied: "No, nobody can replace me as I can't replace anyone else," said the singer, who added that she wanted to leave a memory of, simply, a "very good old lady".
CHORUS OF PRAISE FOR MAKEBA
Prominent political figures led a chorus of praise on Monday for singer Miriam Makeba who died at the weekend aged 76.
Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela described her as "South Africa's first lady of song".
"The sudden passing of our beloved Miriam has saddened us and our nation," said SA's first post-apartheid president.
"She was South Africa's first lady of song and so richly deserved the title of Mama Africa. She was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours."
"It was fitting that her last moments were spent on a stage,
enriching the hearts and lives of others - and again in support of a good cause," said Mandela.
He said she used her world-wide fame to put the struggle against apartheid on the global agenda.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and
dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us."
Mandela, who convinced Makeba to come home from exile in 1990, said upon her return she continued to use her name to make a difference "by mentoring musicians and supporting struggling young women."
His tribute was one of many that poured in during the course of Monday.
Former president Thabo Mbeki described her as a "unique songbird whose tunes were inspiring, always reminding us of our humanity and obligation to other human beings".
Mbeki paid tribute to her exceptional musical and human qualities -he said he had no doubt that Makeba's music would be immortalised.
He said Makeba's gift and talent served to entertain, to educate and to awaken her global audience to the inhumanity of apartheid.
African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma said the passing of the African songstress left a gaping hole in the cultural life of the country and the African continent.
"On behalf of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), I extend our deepest condolences to her grandchildren, her relatives and friends.
"We say to them, the nation and indeed music lovers throughout the world share your sorrow in this time of bereavement."
Zuma said Makeba was beyond dispute - one of Africa's great musical legends.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "What a great loss to us and to the world is the death of that nightingale, Miriam Makeba."
Tutu said the world was slightly better because of Makeba's
serenading and was now poorer for her death.
"We give great thanks to God for this tremendous gift of Miriam Makeba. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Our condolences to her bereaved family," he said.
The Speaker of Parliament's National Assembly, Gwen
Mahlangu-Nkabinde, sent her condolences to the family and relatives of a "compatriot who brought the meaning of struggle for liberation and nation building through her majestic musical talent".
International filmmaker Anant Singh, who worked with her on
Sarafina, said she was a "legend and an amazing talent".
"We acknowledge the huge role she played in bringing global
awareness to African music during the time she lived abroad and she will always be remembered as the mother of African music. Long live the spirit of Mama Africa," said Singh.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said she died doing what she did best.
"One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Miriam Makeba, has ceased to sing. Miriam Makeba, South Africa's Goodwill Ambassador, died performing what she did best - an ability to communicate a positive message through the art of singing," said Dlamini-Zuma.
The ruling ANC said she would be remembered for many things,
including being the first black African woman to win a Grammy Award.
"Her untimely death ... has robbed the music fraternity, country and the world of one of the artists who contributed immensely - through music -to the liberation of South Africa," said ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte.
"Makeba carried the message for the emancipation of South Africa .... The ANC will forever treasure the contribution made by Miriam Makeba in the struggle for liberation and the building of our democracy."
The ANC Women's League described her as an "African songbird... [who was] the beacon of hope to many women of Africa, especially artists".
"She inspired them to rise beyond their prevailing circumstances and use their talent to inspire social, economic, cultural and political change as well as promoting peace and unity across diverse cultures.
"Through her gift of music and her unique voice in the entertainment industry, she was able to craft and portray the conditions of the African people, in particular women. The world was then able to identify with the living conditions under the apartheid system," said ANCWL secretary general Sisisi Tolashe.
Others who paid tribute to her included the ANC Youth League, the ANC in Gauteng, the Azanian People's Organisation, the Democratic Alliance, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the Independent Democrats, the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade, the National Democratic Convention, the Pan Africanist Congress, the provincial arts and culture department in KwaZulu-Natal and the United Democratic Movement.
Mama Africa's remains to return to SA
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Nov 11 2008 07:46
The Foreign Affairs Ministry will assist the family of South African singer Miriam Makeba to bring her remains home following her death in Italy on Sunday, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"The Foreign Affairs Ministry has begun the process of the repatriation of the mortal remains of South Africa's goodwill ambassador, Miriam Makeba, back to South Africa for a funeral service and cremation," said spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa in a statement.
"This follows consultations between the Foreign Ministry and the family of the late Miriam Makeba on Monday November 10, in which the family decided on the repatriation of the mortal remains back to South Africa before cremation."
The department will offer consular services to family members and will also help the family with the documentation needed to bring the remains home by the end of the week.
Makeba, fondly known as "Mama Africa", died of a heart attack after a performance in Italy on Sunday night.
Makeba, whose most famous hits included Pata Pata, The Click Song (Qongqothwane in Xhosa) and Mailaka, died after taking part in a concert for Roberto Saviano, a writer threatened with death by the Mafia.
Many high-profile politicians paid tribute to her, especially her contribution to the struggle against apartheid and for placing it on the global agenda.
The Human Sciences Research Council added its voice to the tributes on Tuesday morning, saying she left many legacies.
"Makeba leaves a legacy of timeless and elegant performances on stage in highly acclaimed epic shows such as King Korn and Graceland, to name a few.
"Mama Africa also lives a legacy of being a political activist. During her period in exile, she not only gave a voice on the oppressed but also testified against apartheid ...
"This music diva was an inspiration to many young women during the apartheid period and after the 1994 elections," the HSRC said in a statement. -- Sapa
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-11-mama-africas-remains-to-return-sa
SA mourns Makeba, musical 'mother' of the nation
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Nov 10 2008 17:12
Nelson Mandela praised Miriam Makeba as a "mother" of modern South Africa, who gave voice to the anti-apartheid struggle, as tributes poured in on Monday for the legendary singer.
Makeba (76), who was widely known as "Mama Africa", collapsed on Sunday after a concert in Italy. She later died of a heart attack in hospital.
"She was South Africa's first lady of song and so richly deserved the title of Mama Africa. She was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours," Mandela said in a statement.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation, which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us," he said.
The African National Congress, which spearheaded the anti-apartheid struggle, hailed her musical contribution to the fight against the white-minority government.
"The passing of this African songstress leaves a gaping hole in the cultural life of our country and the African continent," said party leader Jacob Zuma.
"Miriam Makeba used her voice, not merely to entertain, but to give a voice to the millions of oppressed South Africans under the yoke of apartheid," said Zuma.
"Miriam was an indefatigable African patriot who used her immense talent in the service of her people and the struggle for freedom and democracy, not only in South Africa, but in the continent as a whole."
Fellow African musical giant Youssou Ndour mourned her death as a loss to the world's music.
"It really is a great loss for Africa, for African music and all music," he told a Senegalese radio station. "She was somebody who did a lot for Africa, and in general for black people. It is a great loss."
In Sierra Leone, where Makeba was well known for frequent weekend shopping trips or playing concerts when she lived in neighbouring Guinea in the early 1990s, radio stations played her songs, including her famous hit Pata Pata.
"We have received the death with shock as she has no comparison," said Samuel Richards, a senior Culture Ministry official.
'We will surely miss her'
Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo said one of the continent's finest voices had disappeared, while the South African government also mourned her.
"One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Miriam Makeba has ceased to sing," said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Fellow artists remembered her as someone who nurtured young musicians.
"She is a legend. We will surely, surely miss her," South African diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka said.
"She was a mother, a friend, an extraordinary woman who survived many tribulations in her life. She was an icon," said Gugu Sibiya, the arts and entertainment editor of the Sowetan
Veteran Congolese musician Ray Lema praised her for taking African music to the world.
"She was the first great African singer to take the voice of Africa beyond Africa. She was a passionate artist and a great activist," the 62-year-old jazz pioneer said in Paris.
"It was a beautiful death, worthy of her memory. I would be proud to go like that," he said.
Makeba, famed for hits such as Pata Pata and The Click Song, died of a heart attack in a Naples hospital after she collapsed as she left the stage at a benefit concert in Castel Volturno on Sunday.
Born in Johannesburg on March 4 1932, Makeba was one of Africa's best known singers. While Mandela was in prison, she took up the battle against apartheid through her music.
South Africa revoked her citizenship in 1960 and even refused to let her return for her mother's funeral. Makeba spent more than three decades in exile, living in the United States, Guinea and Europe. --
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-10-sa-mourns-makeba-musical-mother-of-the-nation
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