ZENZILE MIRIAM MAKEBAMAMA 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 likeU Q H O Q H O Q H Owhich means the Adam’s apple.

I Q A N D Awhich means an egg.

I X O X Owhich 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”.