Miriam Makeba - Malaika

It was sad news this week when it was known that Miriam Makeba had passed away while walking off stage at a concert in Italy. Mama Afrika has had a long career of performing her unique blend of traditional African vocals and melodies mixed with modern day jazz. Beyond her career as an artist, she was thrust onto the world wide stage when she testified against Apartheid in 1963, earning her a three decade long exile from her home country of South Africa. She spent most of that time untiringly singing about and campaigning for freedom. Eventually she was able to return at the invitation of then president, Nelson Mandela in 1990 and at the news of her passing a few days ago, he had this to say:

"She was a mother to our struggle and to the young nation of ours. It was fitting that her last moments were spent on a stage, enriching the hearts and lives of others - and again in support of a good cause. "