Miriam Makeba

I'm 60 years old and I love music, but only now do I become aware of Miriam Makeba


Makeba was a South African singer. She had a difficult early life, but her strong and attractive singing voice got her attention. She toured with several singing groups in the 1950s, and on gaining international attention she moved to America in 1960 as a solo artist. Throughout her singing career she blended African and Western music to great affect. She became a spokesperson for civil rights in America and South Africa, her home, where she was banned until the end of apartheid. For a while she was also banned from certain Western countries, such as France, and with her home country of South Africa refusing her a passport, she had to rely on the goodwill of other African nations in granting her diplomatic papers so she could travel. He main musical output was the 1960s and early 1970s, though she continued to record and perform throughout her life, including touring with Paul Simon on the controversial Graceland tour. She died on stage in 2008. 

Her music is pretty good. 

The Sound of Africa  

* Website
* Wikipedia 
* Guardian obituary 
* New York Times obituary 
* South African History 
* AllMusic