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Miriam Makeba: 'I will sing until the last day of my life'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/200...rica-worldmusic
| quote: | Miriam Makeba, the renowned South African singer and anti-apartheid campaigner who was forced into exile for more than three decades, died early this morning after collapsing at a performance in Italy. She was 76.
Known as "Mama Africa" to her many fans worldwide, Makeba was at a protest concert against organised criminals when she suffered a heart attack as she was leaving the stage. She died soon afterwards at a clinic in the southern Italian town of Castel Volturno.
As the first black South African to win international stardom, Makeba performed alongside the likes of Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie in the US. Fusing township melodies with jazz ballads, she sang for world leaders from President John F Kennedy to Nelson Mandela, who led the tributes today, describing Makeba as "South Africa's first lady of song".
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Two friends of mine are currently teaching in South Africa, and according to their stories, the level of racism they are experiencing makes me shiver in distress.
Last edited by winston on Nov-11-2008 at 05:01
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