Zenzile Miriam Makeba: Mama Afrika
“Honestly, I’m just a little old singer, I am not a politician, I’m not an economist or anything of the sort. I just wish that people could be soldiers. We can all be soldiers not to fight against each other but to fight against poverty, illnesses, disease, greed and all the ills of the world, you know just be an army for all goodness.”
Throughout her career Makeba insisted that her music was not consciously political in an interview with the British Times she said: “I’m not a political singer. I don't know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life, and in South Africa we always sang about what was happening to us – especially the things that hurt us.”
“I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots. Through my music I became this voice and image of Africa and the people without even realising.”
On July 16, 1963, Makeba addressed the United Nations (UN) Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid. In a quiet voice and taking frequent nervous pauses, the usually consummate performer said: “Some 5,000 people have in recent months been put behind prison bars. Among those who have been jailed and detained… are many of our prominent leaders which include Chief AJ Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela, Mrs Lillian Ngoyi and only last week, Mr Walter Sisulu… These people must be released at once. I am certa
