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South Africa mourns singer Makeba, 'mother' of the nation
http://sg.rd.yahoo.com/partners/afp/SIG=10n1rur92/*http://www.afp.com/
AFP - Tuesday, November 11 JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - - Nelson Mandela praised Miriam Makeba as a "mother" of modern South Africa who gave voice to the anti-apartheid struggle, as tributes poured in Monday for the legendary singer.
Makeba, 76, who was widely known as " Mama Africa ", collapsed Sunday after a concert in Italy. She later died of a heart attack in hospital.
"She was South Africa's first lady of song and so richly deserved the title of Mama Africa. She was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours," Mandela said in a statement.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and disclocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us," he said.
"Even after she returned home she continued to use her name to make a difference by mentoring musicians and supporting struggling young women," he added.
The African National Congress, which spearheaded the anti-apartheid struggle and brought Mandela as president, hailed her musical contribution to the fight against the white-minority government.
"The ANC will forever treasure the contribution made by Miriam Makeba in the struggle for liberation and building of our democracy," the party said.
"We pay homage to 'Mama Africa' as we have affectionately known her. During apartheid, Makeba carried the message for the emancipation of South Africa," the party said.
"Her untimely death... has robbed the music fraternity, country and the world of one of the artists who contributed immensely -- through music -- to the liberation of South Africa," it added.
South Africa's government also mourned her.
"One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Miriam Makeba has ceased to sing," said foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The singer "died performing what she did best -- an ability to, communicate a positive message through the art of singing," Dlamini Zuma said.
The Star newspaper ran a special edition with a banner headline, "Mama Africa dies," hailing her as the "empress of African song."
Fellow artists also mourned her passing, remembering her as someone who nurtured young musicians.
"She is a legend. We will surely, surely miss her," South African diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka said.
"Miriam Makeba was motherly. She was always a mother to all the musicians -- young and old. She was someone who always wanted musicians to be well fed and she always a humble person," a former member of her band said in an interview on public radio SA FM.
"She was a mother, a friend, an extraordinary woman who survived many tribulations in her life. She was an icon," said Gugu Sibiya, the arts and entertainment editor of The Sowetan newspaper.
Makeba, famed for hits such as "Pata Pata" and "The Click Song," died of a heart attack in a Naples hospital after she collapsed as she left the stage at a benefit concert in Castel Volturno on Sunday.
Born in Johannesburg on March 4, 1932, Makeba was one of Africa's best known singers. While Mandela was in prison, she took up the battle against apartheid through her music.
South Africa revoked her citizenship in 1960 and even refused to let her return for her mother's funeral. Makeba spent more than three decades in exile, living in the United States, Guinea and Europe.
http://sg.rd.yahoo.com/partners/afp/SIG=10n1rur92/*http://www.afp.com/
AFP - Tuesday, November 11 JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - - Nelson Mandela praised Miriam Makeba as a "mother" of modern South Africa who gave voice to the anti-apartheid struggle, as tributes poured in Monday for the legendary singer.
Makeba, 76, who was widely known as " Mama Africa ", collapsed Sunday after a concert in Italy. She later died of a heart attack in hospital.
"She was South Africa's first lady of song and so richly deserved the title of Mama Africa. She was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours," Mandela said in a statement.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and disclocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us," he said.
"Even after she returned home she continued to use her name to make a difference by mentoring musicians and supporting struggling young women," he added.
The African National Congress, which spearheaded the anti-apartheid struggle and brought Mandela as president, hailed her musical contribution to the fight against the white-minority government.
"The ANC will forever treasure the contribution made by Miriam Makeba in the struggle for liberation and building of our democracy," the party said.
"We pay homage to 'Mama Africa' as we have affectionately known her. During apartheid, Makeba carried the message for the emancipation of South Africa," the party said.
"Her untimely death... has robbed the music fraternity, country and the world of one of the artists who contributed immensely -- through music -- to the liberation of South Africa," it added.
South Africa's government also mourned her.
"One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Miriam Makeba has ceased to sing," said foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The singer "died performing what she did best -- an ability to, communicate a positive message through the art of singing," Dlamini Zuma said.
The Star newspaper ran a special edition with a banner headline, "Mama Africa dies," hailing her as the "empress of African song."
Fellow artists also mourned her passing, remembering her as someone who nurtured young musicians.
"She is a legend. We will surely, surely miss her," South African diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka said.
"Miriam Makeba was motherly. She was always a mother to all the musicians -- young and old. She was someone who always wanted musicians to be well fed and she always a humble person," a former member of her band said in an interview on public radio SA FM.
"She was a mother, a friend, an extraordinary woman who survived many tribulations in her life. She was an icon," said Gugu Sibiya, the arts and entertainment editor of The Sowetan newspaper.
Makeba, famed for hits such as "Pata Pata" and "The Click Song," died of a heart attack in a Naples hospital after she collapsed as she left the stage at a benefit concert in Castel Volturno on Sunday.
Born in Johannesburg on March 4, 1932, Makeba was one of Africa's best known singers. While Mandela was in prison, she took up the battle against apartheid through her music.
South Africa revoked her citizenship in 1960 and even refused to let her return for her mother's funeral. Makeba spent more than three decades in exile, living in the United States, Guinea and Europe.
