Miriam Makeba

Description: (Singer)

Zenzile Miriam Makeba was a famous South African musician, actor and a keen civil rights activist, who was named United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Also known by her nickname Mama Africa, she is the person who took African traditional music sounds to the world stage and performed in many countries around the globe, achieving magnum success while. She was strongly against white supremacy which was very much apparent in South Africa during 60s and 70s and spoke in favour of the anti-apartheid movements all through her life, until things got a lot better in the 90s. Finding her musical voice while going through a very rough childhood wasn’t easy but Miriam showed traits of a true artist. She grew out of her disabilities and her ‘no excuses’ attitude placed her among the best musicians to come out of Africa. She bagged a Grammy award for her album ‘An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba’ and is regularly credited with making afro-pop a thing to look out for in America, which basically is a music form that combines African Zulu with modern music sounds.

Overview

Birthday March 4, 1932 (Pisces)
Alternative names Mama Africa, Zenzile Miriam Makeba
City Johannesburg, South Africa
Died on November 10, 2008
Spouse/Ex- Hugh Masekela, Stokely Carmichael
Parents
Children Bongi Makeba

Did you know

How did Miriam Makeba's career evolve after she was exiled from South Africa? After being exiled from South Africa, Miriam Makeba continued to perform internationally, becoming a prominent voice for the anti-apartheid movement and African unity.
What was the significance of Miriam Makeba's performance at the United Nations in 1963? Miriam Makeba's performance at the United Nations in 1963, brought global attention to the struggles of black South Africans under apartheid and helped rally support for the anti-apartheid movement.
How did Miriam Makeba's music influence other artists and genres? Miriam Makeba's fusion of African rhythms with jazz, pop, and traditional music inspired many artists and contributed to the development of world music as a genre.
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