Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba, South Africa’s “first lady of song”, has passed away.
Her rousing songs and commentary about South Africa’s apartheid goverment and against racism both in her home country and here in the United States were an inspiration to millions. I first got into her as a young teen, and her music was a memorable part of my political awakening.
The story of Makeba and so many other’s victories in the struggle for justice is an important reminder that our movements thrive less on the statistics and figures, strategic plans, soundbytes, and position papers, and more by way of our stories, visions, values, and crucially the strength of our cultural leaders.
What’s the place of cultural work in our movement and are we giving it enough importance? Which songs, artwork, stories, or poems are inspiring you to action for climate justice today?
that’s very sad. i was introduce to her music by accident a few years ago and have been a huge fan ever since.
you will be missed.
thank you for that lovely post.
a song that always lifts and inspires me is “a quitter never wins” by williams and watson. a lovely slice of 60s RnB in which:
“me and me and my baby we don’t mind/ if things don’t go right all the time/ i’ve got her love and you know she’s got mine/ with a smile on my face, i’m gonna keep on tryin’”
Here’s two groups folks may or may not have heard of that are doing great cultural/political work:
http://www.beehivecollective.org
http://www.riotfolk.org
and here’s a video of Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon together: