Afropeek | News headline

News	16 November 2008

Death of a true African Icon: Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba 2007 African day at Trafalgar Square London

Miriam Makeba, death of an Icon

Miriam Makeba has died at the age of 76 after collapsing at a concert in Italy. The legendary singer and symbol for South African freedom and justice died on Monday 10th of November 2008. She was performing at a concert in the Italian southern city of Naples and collapsed on stage. She was treated while the audience shouted for an encore but died at The Pineta Grande clinic in Castel Volturno, near the city of Naples from a heart attack, officials said.

Castel Volturno Mayor Francesco Nuzzo said Makeba sang at a concert in solidarity with six immigrants from Ghana that were cruelly murdered in September in the city of Naples.

Nelson Mandela led tributes Monday to the singer who had international hits with songs such as "Pata Pata" and "The Click Song" while she was banned from entering her homeland.

"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.

Miriam Makeba is well known for her beautiful voice and powerful songs but also for her continuous fight against injustice and tyrannical governments.

Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg on 4 March 1932 and was a leading symbol in the struggle against apartheid. Her singing career started in the 1950s as she mixed jazz with traditional South African songs. She came to international attention in 1959 during a tour of the United States with South African group the Manhattan Brothers

In 1960 she was denied entry in South Africa to attend the funeral of her mother and after confessing against apartheid in front of the UN, her South African citizenship was revoked, along with her right of entering South Africa ever again. She was forced into exile.

In 1963, Makeba appeared before the U.N. Special Committee on Apartheid to call for an international boycott of South Africa. The South African government responded by banning her records, including hits like "Pata Pata," "The Click Song" ("Qongqothwane" in Xhosa), and "Malaika."

Miriam Makeba

1932: Born Johannesburg, South Africa.
1959: Stars in the jazz opera King Kong and anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, met Harry Belafonte.
1960: Her South African citizenship was revoked and forced into exile.
1962: Performs at President Kennedy's birthday party.
1963: Testifies against apartheid at the United Nations.
1966: Becomes the first African woman to win a Grammy award.
1987: Performed with Paul Simon at the famous "Graceland" concert in Zimbabwe.
1990: Returns to South Africa Nelson after Mandela was released from prison.
2008: Dies in Caserta, Italy following a concert, aged 76 of heart attack.

It was 30 years before she was allowed to return after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990.

Miriam Makeba was the first African woman to win a Grammy award.