Kaya 959 Reporter
Dr. Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa celebrated her 90th birthday on March 4, 2022.
A variety of tributes, events, exhibitions, and other activities will be organized in the year 2022 in the numerous places she lived and performed, spanning decades over her illustrious career, including South Africa.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to musician Zenzi Lee Makeba Lee, the granddaughter of the legendary songstress about the planned tributes.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
Zenzi Lee was born to a South African mother and an American father in Manhattan, New York.
Zenzi has always created and composed her own music. She’s also written and co-authored a number of songs for other artists, including “Homeland,” a song from Miriam Makeba’s Grammy Award-winning album “Homeland.”
Her first recorded stage appearance was at the Northsea Jazz Festival in Den Hague when she was eight years old.
In the same year, Zenzi starred in Ben Barka’s award-winning anti-apartheid film, which was shot on location in Morocco and Conakry, Guinea.
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On the importance of taking care of your voice
“I think is unlike any other instrument, I think any instrument even an external instrument is affected by your mood…” I think your spirit is very important, as it overcomes a lot of things.
“The voice is very important and it needs to be taken care of. “
On what Mama Miriam Makeba
Makeba Lee spoke about how her grandmother raised her since she was six months old, and shared memories of her upbringing.
“We should focus on the light within ourselves, and put that light together and that is what Mama Miriam Makeba represented. She was a flame of unity, that inspires me and gives me hope.”
“I am positive and optimistic about everybody.”
She will be performing on Friday 27th May at the Leano Restaurant in Braamfontein.
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