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ZENZILE MIRIAM MAKEBAMAMA AFRICA
¡ 1932-2008
¡ Born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Xhosa and Swazi parents
¡ Mother was a sangoma, or traditional healer
¡ Began singing professionally in the 1950’s
¡ Traveled around the world singing with different musical groups
¡ Was not allowed to return to South Africa (even for her mother’s funeral) until after Nelson Mandela was released in 1990 and he persuaded her to return.
¡ In her life, she held nine passports, and was granted honorary citizenship in ten countries.
¡ Spoke out against apartheid
¡ Civil rights activist
“I look at an ant and see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit. I look at a bird and I see myself: a native South African, soaring above the injustices of apartheid on wings of pride, the pride of a beautiful people.”
¡ Sang traditional African songs as well as songs from around the world
¡ Sang in languages such as Swahili, Xhosa, and Sotho
¡ Used many musical styles including jazz, gospel, and blues
“People say I sing politics, but what I sing is not politics,
it is the truth.”
Everywhere we go people often ask me, “How do you make that noise?”
It used to offend me because it isn’t a noise. It’s my language.
I think to understand that they didn’t understand Xhosa is my language and it’s a written language. We use the same Roman alphabet in writing it. The only difference is that we pronounce certain letters differently, such as the letter Q we pronounce “__”.
And the letter X we pronounce “__”, the letter C “__”, and the letter R “__”.
We have words likeU Q H O Q H O Q H Owhich means the Adam’s apple.
I Q A N D Awhich means an egg.
I X O X Owhich means a frog.
In my native village in Johannesburg, there is a song that we always sing when a young girl gets married. It’s called “The Click Song” by the English because they cannot say “Qongqothwane”.