ZENZILE MIRIAM MAKEBA MAMA AFRICA ¡ 1932-2008 ¡ Born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Xhosa and Swazi parents ¡ Mother was a sangoma, or traditional healer ¡ Began singing professionally in the 1950’s ¡ Traveled around the world singing with different musical groups ¡ Was not allowed to return to South Africa (even for her mother’s funeral) until after Nelson Mandela was released in 1990 and he persuaded her to return. ¡ In her life, she held nine passports, and was granted honorary citizenship in ten countries. ¡ Spoke out against apartheid ¡ Civil rights activist

“I look at an ant and see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit. I look at a bird and I see myself: a native South African, soaring above the injustices of apartheid on wings of pride, the pride of a beautiful people.” ¡ Sang traditional African songs as well as songs from around the world ¡ Sang in languages such as Swahili, Xhosa, and Sotho ¡ Used many musical styles including jazz, gospel, and blues “People say I sing politics, but what I sing is not politics, it is the truth.” Everywhere we go people often ask me, “How do you make that noise?”

It used to offend me because it isn’t a noise. It’s my language. I think to understand that they didn’t understand Xhosa is my language and it’s a written language. We use the same Roman alphabet in writing it. The only difference is that we pronounce certain letters differently, such as the letter Q we pronounce “__”.

And the letter X we pronounce “__”, the letter C “__”, and the letter R “__”.

We have words like U Q H O Q H O Q H O which means the Adam’s apple. I Q A N D A which means an egg.

I X O X O which means a frog. In my native village in Johannesburg, there is a song that we always sing when a young girl gets married. It’s called “The Click Song” by the English because they cannot say “Qongqothwane”.