From Daily Independent (Lagos)
BlackCommentator.com In Struggle Spotlight
12 November 2008
Fittingly, the South African icon Miriam Makeba
passed on after performing at a concert in
Her demise represents a profound loss to the African continent. Her musical contribution was a factor in bringing down the obnoxious apartheid system. There is every reason to be grateful that she lived to see the unmourned dismantling of that system.
She could, of course, have taken the other route.
Collaboration with the apartheid government would have made her life much
more comfortable. She would definitely have saved herself the inconvenience
of exile. The price was high. For example, in 1960 her attempt to return
home to
By deploying her talents, she set an example for
a host of other artistes and musicians. Activitism such as hers was a
precursor for later initiatives by musicians such as the “Concert for
The process that people like Makeba initiated can best be captured in a statement by the American President-elect, Barack Obama, who stated during his election campaign that “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. Her noble role is in stark contrast to those (admittedly) lesser talented Nigerian musicians who repugnantly collaborated for pecuniary benefit in offering their services to Sani Abacha’s so-called million man march.
Makeba’s activitism straddled the decisive phase
of the anti-apartheid struggle. She entered international prominence when
she appeared in the anti-apartheid documentary “Come Back,
She was awesomely talented. Some of her hit songs such as “Pata Pata”, “The Click song” and “Malaika” are not just evergreen, they have become seminal classics.
She started her career first of all with an amateur
group. In the 1950s she became a full time singer appearing with a band
called “The Manhattan Brothers”, before forming her own group, “The Skylarks”
whose repertoire infused a blending of jazz with the traditional melodies
of indigenous
Not surprisingly, the singer as activist who was received by world leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Francois Mitterand, Haile Sellasie amongst others has been showered with accolade since her demise at home and abroad. In her own country of origin, the African National Congress (ANC), which spearheaded the struggle against the apartheid regime was fulsome in its tribute. “The ANC will forever treasure the contribution made by Miriam Makeba in the struggle for liberation and building of our democracy”, the Party stated.
Younger artists for whom she was an endearing role
model also mourned her passing. The South African diva, Yvonne Chaka Chaka,
stated that “she is a legend. We will surely miss her.” Here in
This newspaper salutes the indomitable courage of Mama Afrika. Her life is a testimony to courage and the use of God-given talents for the benefit of humanity. She made us all feel so proud to be Africans.
Originally published in Daily
Independent,
Books
Makeba:
The Miriam Makeba Story
Music
Mama
Africa: The Very Best of Miriam Makeba
Her
Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song
In
Concert! / Pata Pata / Makeba!
Miriam
Makeba / World of Miriam Makeba
Paul
Simon - Graceland (The African Concert)
The
Best of Miriam Makeba and the Skylarks
Evening
With Miriam Makeba / Magic of Miriam
Miriam
Makeba & the Skylarks, Vol. 1
Miriam
Makeba & the Skylarks, Vol. 2
Only
the Best of Miriam Makeba
Global
Divas - Voices From Women of the World (3 Cd Set)
Mama
Africa: The Very Best of Miriam Makeba
DVD
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