A Month of Awesome Women: Mama Afrika, Miriam Makeba

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A Month of Awesome Women Every day in March 2011, we'll be talking about one awesome woman and why she's so powerful. Some will be well known; some may be new to you, so check out all the awesome women in the series now.

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When Suzanne Reisman blogged about the death of Miriam Makeba, "Mama Afrika," in 2008, the first thing I did was head over to YouTube to listen to some of her music. Today, on what would have been Makeba's 79th birthday, I invite you to do the same.

Miriam Makeba was not just an amazing singer -- she was a civil rights and human rights activist who was exiled from South Africa for more 30 years.

Last year, Baratunde blogged about Honda's use of Miriam Makeba's music to sell cars.

Miriam Makeba
Image: ©EFE/ZUMA Press

Pata Pata is an especially joyful song. It's designed to make you dance. It's beautiful, and now that beauty has been corrupted. I know this has happened to great works of art before. I know it will happen again. I don't care...

I have to say, I agree with him. I don't want to hear Miriam Makeba's voice and think about a car. I want to hear her voice and think about peace and love and strong women who change the world with their voices and their music.

Want to learn more? Visit this YouTube video of clips from Miriam Makeba's life.

~Denise

BlogHer Community Manager
Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Denise 9 pts moderator

I'm always happy to help others discover great music.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager
Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

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HomeRearedChef 8 pts

Regrettably, I had never heard of this amazing lady, but I am glad to have met her here now. Thank you for sharing about her. Thank you for sharing her song. I loved it!

In person? Because, wow -- that must have been amazing!

in the Philippines, in the late 80's. :-)

MoreThanMommy 5 pts

I had no idea that she had passed. All I know is that I have loved her music ever since I saw her perform with Paul Simon back in the '80's. My kids are now familiar with her music as well. Thanks for this lovely tribute.

Christy@morethanmommy
Quirky Fusion ( http://quirkyfusion.com )
( http://twitter.com/morethanmommy )

foxyc 5 pts

Thanks for this look back at this great woman/activist.singer. I came to know of Ms.Makeba during the 80's.

She WALKS among us!

Forget age, she should be on the top of any list.

:-)

Susan Getgood 5 pts

Two years ago, my mom, brother and I went to southern Africa for 10 days -- Botswana, S. Africa and Zambia (Victoria Falls). For souvenirs, we mostly brought back our own photography, but at the airport going home, I picked up 2 Miriam Makeba albums.

When I think of women musicians in the past 20-30 years that have made a difference with their music, she's at the top of my list along with Nina Simone, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.

Am I dating myself? So be it.

Susan Getgood blogs at Marketing Roadmaps ( http://getgood.com/roadmaps ), Snapshot Chronicles ( http://snapshotchronicles.com ) and Snapshot Chronicles Roadtrip ( http://snapshotchronicles.com/roadtrip ).