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Miriam Makeba
Nov. 10th, 2008 04:51 pm"Mama Africa" has died.
Her music, especially the song Pata-Pata, was one of the great discoveries of my high school years. In one of my dance classes, some of the students choreographed a basic routine to it. We all learned it and when it was performed at the dance recital, we danced in the aisles. I think I can still do the routine. It was very simple, but absolutely joyous.
She was an exile during the time of apartheid. Her music brought news of the struggle to the world. When the original cast of Sarafina! met her, there were tears and a spontaneous outburst of close harmony singing.
She and Hugh Masekela made it possible for Paul Simon to write "Graceland" and paved a way for Savuka and other mixed-race music groups in South Africa both during and after the fight to end apartheid.
She lived to see the end of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. She lived to see a black man elected President of the United States.
I'll miss Miriam Makeba's voice.
Her music, especially the song Pata-Pata, was one of the great discoveries of my high school years. In one of my dance classes, some of the students choreographed a basic routine to it. We all learned it and when it was performed at the dance recital, we danced in the aisles. I think I can still do the routine. It was very simple, but absolutely joyous.
She was an exile during the time of apartheid. Her music brought news of the struggle to the world. When the original cast of Sarafina! met her, there were tears and a spontaneous outburst of close harmony singing.
She and Hugh Masekela made it possible for Paul Simon to write "Graceland" and paved a way for Savuka and other mixed-race music groups in South Africa both during and after the fight to end apartheid.
She lived to see the end of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. She lived to see a black man elected President of the United States.
I'll miss Miriam Makeba's voice.
