MIRIAM MAKEBA ~ LIFE AS SONG

WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND IS A FORM OF THE HAPPINESS WE PERSONIFIED

As you may know, some beauty walked the earth through the mortal body of Miriam Makeba and now leaves only her spiritual footprints ~ as she left her body behind and moved on to sing elsewhere. Music was her medium. So too, was her integrity.

Music is a gift. So too, Miriam Makeba.

Source of the Media Statement below is www.miriammakeba.co.za

Issued by: ZM Makeba Trust and Siyandisa Music

10th November 2008

Johannesburg

The world was dealt a blow early this morning, in a small town outside Naples, Italy when Zenzile Miriam Makeba..Mama Afrika to the world, passed away.. and left this earth, aged 76 years. She was born on 4th March 1932.

Whilst this great lady was alive she would say “I will sing until the last day of my life”

Zenzile Miriam Makeba collapsed on stage, at the end of her set, after singing Pata Pata,. She was immediately attended to by her grandson Nelson Lumumba Lee and others before being rushed to the nearest hospital. Tragically, in the early hours of this 10th of November 2008 morning, the doctors pronounced that they were unable to revive her.

Ambassador Makeba, was with her band, and was performing before an outdoor audience, in the open air at Via Verde, in the small town of Castelvolturno, not far from Naples. The audience included her long time friend, Italian promoter, Roberto Meglioli, who she had called on Friday from Holland, and asked to attend her show. He was on stage with her at the end of the show, and there she collapsed into his arms.

Dr Miriam Makeba never forgot her struggle through her life, and never stopped identifying with those who were downtrodden and who suffered. An activist to the end, the event where she was performing at, was an Anti-Racism and Anti-Mafia Event. “Mazi” as she was affectionately known by those who knew her well, never shied from speaking her mind and standing for her beliefs. She was an outstanding South African, a and indeed a gracious and true citizen of the World.

Zenzile Miriam Makeba is survived by her grandchildren Nelson Lumumba Lee and Zenzi Monique Lee, and her great- grandchildren Lindelani, Ayanda and Kwame.

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Nkosi sikelel Afrika
Lyrics
Uploaded by amaralalexandro

I know this song as Bwana Ibariki Afrika and learned it phonetically from a book in Swahili and in English and taught it to my students. It is a song that exudes dignity and majestic grace.

The 5th Jubilee of Gospel Singers Wollishofen, a Swiss gospel choir from Zurich, Switzerland conducted by Themba Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean musician ~ singing Nkosi sikelel Afrika
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Mama Africa - Miriam Makeba singing Khawuleza 1966
Uploaded by smallstillvoicey

I first learned about Miriam Makeba approximately 30 to 35 years ago. I was at a workshop for music teachers on a Saturday. Not a mandatory thing. Just something many of us did on our own. It was a day of learning dance. Mostly folk dances. We learned Pata Pata to the recorded music of Mariam Makeba. This is the very recording of Pata Pata - I first heard, then purchased, to teach my students the dance.
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Here Miriam is singing Pata Pata - live
Uploaded by RaynerJM
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Soweto Blues
Uploaded by Duncanzibar

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