Makeba: The Miriam Makeba Story

by Miriam Makeba, Nomsa Mwamuka

As the first complete autobiography of Miriam Makeba, this book celebrates the life of this remarkable talent and global icon of music, style, and history. It chronicles Makeba's entire life, from her early days growing up on the Rand and performing with the Manhattan Brothers, to her departure from South Africa. It also details Miriam's life in America and friendship with Harry Belafonte, her performance for President John F. Kennedy alongside Marilyn Monroe, her marriage to Stokely Carmichael, and her life in Conakry, Guinea.

Genres: Music, Africa, Biography, Nonfiction

264 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam Makeba's autobiography is a story of her life growing up under apartheid in South Africa to becoming a singing sensation who traveled the world over. She writes about life in her village before and during the apartheid era and experiencing the horrific oppression instituted by the white government. Because of her musical abilities, she joins The Manhattan Brothers band which performs in black townships throughout the country. Eventually, the band begins to record for Gallotone Records. She is noticed and asked to perform in a film which is shown in other countries. When she is asked to make an appearance outside South Africa, with the help of important people in the entertainment industry, she is able to leave on a temporary visa. When she leaves, under the apartheid regime, she learns she will never be able return to her home.

Not only is this a book about her singing career, but it's also an historical account told through the eyes of one who lived through that period. She relates her experiences living in the U.S. during the Civil Rights Movement, traveling in the South and being denied hotel accommodations. She celebrates as African countries - Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and others - gain their independence from Britain, France and the Belgium Congo. She becomes friends with many of the future leaders of those African countries. Becoming a spokesperson for her people, she speaks before the United Nations Special Committee against apartheid, urging them to take action to free her people from the tyranny of the minority government of South Africa. She meets President Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and many Hollywood stars. With the help of Harry Belafonte, she was able to perform in major countries. She is candid about her marriages to Hugh Masekela and Stokely Carmichael and her relationships. It's a must- read for those interested in modern history from the 1950's to the 1980's told from a personal perspective and in a sensitive and direct way.

[Carolyn]

I had never heard of this singer until a relative mentioned her to me and suggested I read up on her. I did. And I found the biography so interesting if a little heart wrenching. By the time I turned the last page I was left feeling so touched by her story. Something I have not felt in a long time.

[Maame Prempeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a piece of history, having just finished with tears on my cheeks. Miriam is definitely mama Africa. I really enjoyed this, so much of black history has been fused together with this. It is is not literally expressions that makes a good book, but life itself is art and Miriam Makeba is an artist of all times.

[Sergio GRANDE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miriam was fiery, that much is obvious in the book. She was also very economical with the truth, that much we know from having worked with her.
But it's not nice to badmouth a dead person, so let's talk about the book: Mediocre. The writing is sometimes amateurish, sometimes staid. Mostly boring.