at the end of
her latest world tour.
Africa's best-loved diva is bowing out at the end of her latest and final world tour, but Miriam Makeba, now a stately 73, wants to thank all those who have applauded her music and her message for 40 years. Makeba, aka Mama Africa, grew up in a Johannesburg township, was jailed as a baby along with her mother, was a servant for white families and graduated to jazz singing and immortality with numbers such as Malaika, Pata Pata and Africa is Where My Heart Lies. Touring abroad in 1960, she was denied a visa to return home for her mother's funeral and her citizenship was cancelled to punish her for speaking out against apartheid. "I don't sing about politics," she said, "I sing the truth."
She and Harry Belafonte were my introduction into what ultimately became world music.