Today is the 31st anniversary of Steve Biko's death at the hands of the Police, so an important day in South Africa. It's also the day that South African President Mbeki has brokered a compromise in Zimbabwe between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangerei. To celebrate, here's a photo of a Zimbabwean $50,000,000 note. That's right - the inflation is so astronomical that everyone is a bil...
More >
While I am still up I thought this needed to be heard by more than just me. Simply beautiful and powerful. Feel free to direct me to a great Miriam Makeba full-length release in the comments, because I have this song from a compilation. Good night.
More >
This song is pure magic. The artist explains in the liner notes that the song is usually song by the women of the tribe to a young girl on the night before her wedding. A true celebration of life and all it's joys and mysteries. Earhty and sexual without vularity, sensual and exciting without hint of "being risque", One need not understand the language to know what's going on.The language, b...
More >
When I read the news this morning, my heart shattered. I had heard her music throughout my life. I love her work with Harry Belafonte for it to me merges the worlds of Africa and African Americans. But to me she represented that longing that those of us of the African Diaspora represent who were given a connection to the motherland through her music. I loved the passion in her voice for life ...
More >
"Manha de Carnaval" is from the 1962 Kapp label LP _The Many Voices of Miriam Makeba_, which unfortunately has never been reissued. Combining a song composed a few years earlier by the Brazilian guitarist Luis Bonfa and already becoming a warhorse, a singer from South Africa, and New York City session musicians mostly associated with Harry Belafonte: this is a case where fusion succeeded. Lis...
More >
Miriam Makeba, the first Black woman to win a Grammy Award, the first Black woman to break ground on many fronts, has died.The highlights of her life and career in bullet points courtesy of the BBC:1932: Born Johannesburg, South Africa 1959: Stars in the jazz opera King Kong and anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, met Harry Belafonte 1960: Barred from South Africa 1963: Testifies against ...
More >
Miriam Makeba has every right to sing the blues, not the least of which being Soweto Blues, penned by her former husband Hugh Masekela. She's lived a hard life that includes the death of her father when she was six years old and repeated bumps against politics in various forms that resulted in a stunted career that should have been stellar had it been based solely on her talents.She's, perhaps...
More >
Playlist for Spin The Globe - 14 November 2008Music of Kenya, Miriam Makeba remembered, and more as heard on KAOS-fm hour 1 Jabali Afrika - Tandi feat. Cosmas Sindani - Rootsganza Kenge Kenge - Otenga - Introducing Kenge Kenge Suzzana Owiyo - Mama Africa - Mama Africa Athman bin Khamis - Coconut Pickers Song - Kenya & Tanzania: Witchcraft & Ritual Music Hardstone - Uhiki (P...
More >
Footage from her last concert: Miriam Makeba, a South African singer whose voice stirred hopes of freedom among millions in her own country though her music was formally banned by the apartheid authorities she struggled against, died overnight after performing at a concert in Italy on Sunday. She was 76. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, [...]
More >
Khawuleza is a south african songIt comes from the townships reservations locations near Johannesburgthat children shout from the streetsas they see police carscoming to rate their homesfor one thing or anotherthey say „khawuleza mama"which simply meanshurry up mamaand hideplease don´t let them get youkhawuleza mama
More >
Only once did I have the pleasure of seeing Miriam Makeba perform live. It was at the now-defunct WOMAD USA near Seattle in 2000, when she performed on a sunny afternoon at an outdoor stage before thousands. Her granddaughter Zenzi joined her on stage, and I snagged a coveted front-row seat, from which I snapped the somewhat fuzzy photo below. Now she's gone, and I have nothing more profound to...
More >
Renowned South African singer Miriam Makeba , who was known worldwide for her hit song "Pata Pata," died of a heart attack after a concert in southern Italy. She was 76.Miriam Makeba was one of the world's musical treasures, having gained international renown as a recording and performing artist and an important figure in the human rights movements in Africa and beyond. She was forced to...
More >
From YouTube: From Pollstar: Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice but was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid, died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76. In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world - jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul...
More >
Akana Nkomo
More >
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
