Miriam Makeba was born during a time of economic depression in South Africa. Her mother, a domestic worker, was imprisoned for six months for illegally brewing beer to help make ends meet, and Makeba went to prison with her as she was just eighteen days old. From a young age, Makeba loved to sing at church, and performed her first solo during the 1947 Royal Visit. Makeba began her working life helping her mother clean houses.

Her music career started with her singing in her cousin’s band, the Cuban Brothers. She began to sing for a different band, the Manhattan Brothers, in 1954, and began to build a reputation. She toured South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Congo with the band until 1957.

Black pioneer

She was the first Black musician to leave South Africa because of apartheid. Makeba took up refuge in London after the Venice film festival and met Harry Belafonte, who helped her to emigrate to the U.S.. In the early 1960s, she shot to fame overnight, and performed for former U.S. President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Gardens in 1962.

She went on to perform for other heads of state, and even the Pope. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from 27 years in prison, and encouraged Makeba to return to South Africa after 31 years in exile. She became a goodwill ambassador for South Africa to the United Nations.