Top Miriam Makeba Quotes - Quotesmemo.com

Miriam Makeba Biography

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil-rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa.

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Miriam Makeba Quotes

Age is wisdom if one has lived ones life properly.

Age, Aging, Funny, Lived, Ones, Wisdom

my thoughts are like quick little fish that swim out of my grasp.

Like, Littles, My Thoughts, Quick, Swim

If given a choice, I would have certainly selected to be what I am: one of the oppressed instead of one of the oppressors.

Choices, Given, Instead, Oppressed, Oppression

There are a lot of homes for boys, but very few for girls, that is why I chose to do for girls.

Boys, Chose, Girl, Home, Homes

I didn't have much, but I was always happy to share what I did have. It seemed like every African that came to New York City would show up at my apartment door at dinnertime, and I couldn't turn them away. I wasn't much older than any of them, but they started calling me 'Mama Africa' and the name stuck.

African, Cities, Door, Doors, New York, Show

And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite.

Country, Music, People, Thinking, World

African music, though very old, is always being rediscovered in the West.

African, African Music, Music, West

I titled the album Reflections because I am reflecting on my music career.

Album, Albums, Career, Careers, Reflection, Titled

And I believe that it becomes a troubled continent because there are those who must always cause confusion so that we do not keep these natural resources.

Becomes, Believe, Cause, Causes, Confusion, Resources

[Belafonte]'d take me to perform for Martin Luther King's cause. But when they were marching I did not take part, because I was not a citizen

Cause, Causes, Citizen, Citizens, Kings, Part

People in the United States still have a 'Tarzan' movie view of Africa. That's because in the movies all you see are jungles and animals. . . We [too] watch television and listen to the radio and go to dances and fall in love.

Animal, Falling In Love, Jungles, States, Tarzan, Views

Belafonte sent his people to pick me up and I went back and shook his hand, then went back to my little flat. I was very happy to have met a president of the United States - little me!

Hand, Hands, Met, People, Pick Me Up, Sent

In New York I heard A Piece of Ground, written by a white South African, Jeremy Taylor. I modified it a little and sang it myself. That song is very special to me because it deals with the land question in southern Africa. We were dispossessed of our land.

Africa, Land, New York, Song, Special, York

There are three things I was born with in this world, and there are three things I will have until the day I die-hope, determination, and song.

Born, Day, Determination, Music, Song

In those years, when I came to the States, people were always asking me why I didn't sing anymore. I'd tell them, 'I sing all around the world-Asia, Africa, Europe-but if you don't sing in the US, then you haven't really made it. ' That's why I'll always be grateful to Paul Simon. He allowed me to bring my music back to my friends in this country.

Country, Grateful, People, States, Years

In the West the past is like a dead animal. It is a carcass picked at by the flies that call themselves historians and biographers. But in my culture the past lives. My people feel this way in part because death does not separate us from our ancestors.

Animal, Call, Flies, Like, Past, People

In the mind, in the heart, I was always home. I always imagined, really, going back home.

Back Home, Heart, Home, Mind

I'm not a politician; I am a singer. Long ago, they said, 'That one, she sings politics. ' I don't sing politics; I merely sing the truth.

Long Ago, Said, Singer, Singers, Singing, Sings

I ask you and all the leaders of the world: Would you act differently, would you keep silent and do nothing if you were in our place? Would you not resist if you were allowed no rights in your own country because the color of your skin is different to that of the rulers, and if you were punished for even asking for equality? I appeal to you, and through you to all the countries of the world, to do everything you can to stop the coming tragedy. I appeal to you to save the lives of our leaders, to empty the prisons of all those who should never have been there.

Countries Of The World, Country, Leaders, Rights, Save, Skin

For instance, we're always fighting amongst each other. Who gives us the arms? And then we become indebted to wherever we are buying them from - with what? The very resources we need to keep there.

Arms, Become, Fighting, Giving, Needs

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