From the 1950s, a singer began to tell the world through her music about the injustice being faced in South Africa. This woman later came to be referred to as Mama Africa – a moniker that highlighted the unity she inspired in the fight against the Apartheid policies that enforced racial segregation across South Africa, as well as the fondness with which she was considered by millions around the world. During her lifetime, Miriam Makeba rose to prominence and brought the fight of Black South Africans to the forefront of the international consciousness, while also introducing and exposing the Western world to African culture and music. She was honoured by numerous world leaders, met with the Pope on several occasions and became the first African recording artist to win a Grammy. The extent of Makeba’s political, personal and cultural achievements cannot be entirely collated here, but delving into the life of such an extraordinary woman is necessary to bring attention to just some of the impact she made.
EARLY LIFE
From the very first weeks of Zenzile Miriam Makeba’s life, she experienced hardship. Born in 1932 in Prospect Township, near Johannesburg, Makeba was only alive for 18 days before she ended up in prison. Her mother, Nomkomndelo Christina Makeba, was arrested for brewing and selling homemade beer, known as umqombothi, and as the family were not wealthy enough to be able to pay the fine for such a crime, Christina had to serve six months in jail. With her daughter a newborn, Miriam went with her, spending the first months of her life imprisoned.
By the time Christina wasIt was clear that Makeba was talented and in 1947, at the age of 15, she was selected to perform her first solo during the Royal Visit of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their daughters Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth II) and Margaret to South Africa. However, the performance never came about, and Makeba had to wait for another opportunity to pursue her dream.
