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Miriam Makeba who?

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. She had a life of remarkable global impact. She contributed to Black people’s struggle for liberation and defended the integrity of African identity and artistry while living in a land absent of her ancestry.

Miriam Makeba was one of the first to introduce African music to a Western audience. Her biggest hit was the song Pata Pata (1967). With her fame, she prepared the way for other African artists such as Youssou N'Dour and Fela Kuti. Makeba successfully toured Europe and the United States, and in 1987 she joined Paul Simon's Graceland tour.
© Sallstedts bildbyrå

Baby in jail

Miriam's mother was an activist, a traditional healer (aka Sangoma) and she owned her own shebeen. Two weeks after Miriam Makeba was born, she was arrested and jailed for illegally selling beers like Umqombothi in equally illegal shebeens. As a result, Makeba spent the first months of her life in jail.

30 years in exile

When Makeba wanted to return to South Africa in 1960 for her mother's funeral, the South African government denied her entry, after which she lived in exile for 30 years. Later, her citizenship was also revoked. After her banishment Makeba went to live in America. Her political activism brought her to testify before the United Nations in 1963, after which her records were banned in South Africa. In the late 60s she became ostracized in the US and she took refuge in Guinea, where she lived until 1985 before moving to Brussels. In 1990, after 30 years in exile, she returned to her native South Africa at Nelson Mandela's invitation. She died in Italy in 2008.