Mama Africa
Zenzile Miriam Makeba, often known as Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award-winning South African singer and civil rights activist. In the 1960s, she was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music around the world.
She is best known for the song Pata Pata, first recorded in 1957 and released in the U.S. in 1967. This recording of Pata Pata was made when she appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967.
Makeba campaigned against the South African system of apartheid. The South African government responded by revoking her passport in 1960 and her citizenship and right of return in 1963. When the apartheid system collapsed, she returned home for the first time in 1990.
Miriam Makeba was born 178 years ago this week on March 4, 1932 and died of a heart attack on 9 November 2008 after performing in a concert in Italy. She was 76.
This recording of Hapo Zamani was made in 2006 at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival when she returned home to South Africa for the final time.
The post Ruth Leon recommends…. Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa appeared first on Slippedisc.
