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Documentary: Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa

Interesting documentary mostly in English. Miriam Makeba was perhaps one of the truly great global African icons. Her music and politics seemed to transcend race and nationality. This documentary by Director, Mika Kaurismäki explores who the real Miriam Makeba was and tells us about her experiences in apartheid South Africa.

This is how Mika Kaurismaki describes this documentary:
This documentary gives not only a great visual overview of Makeba’s career but through the many interviews with the singer and guests one can gets a really good impression of the life and circumstances in South Africa before 1994, during Apartheid and Makeba’s struggle against the regime.

Especially the early years of Miriam Makeba are well highlighted; her performances as part of the African Jazz & Variety shows at the City Hall in Johannesburg, her start as a singer with The Manhattan Brothers, her rise and fall in the USA, living as an exile in Guinea…there is even some rare footage from an unofficial film ‘Come Back Africa’ (1959) by American filmmaker Lionel Rogosin that was smuggled out of the country and contained 2 songs by a very young Makeba. Essential film footage and a treasure to all lovers of the music of one of South Africa’s greatest singers.

Documentary: Miriam Makeba - Mama Africa, 10.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating