- Field Day |
- Buildings Alive |
- Visions |
- CLGBT |
- Green Community |
- Fun & Free S#!T |
- Crossword |
- CL Space |
Monday, November 10, 2008
Anti-apartheid artist Miriam Makeba has died
Posted by Eric Snider on Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 4:45 PM
There was a time, in the mid and late '80s, when South African apartheid was a prominent theme among more socially conscious musicians. Singer Miriam Makeba, a South African artist much at the nexus of the turmoil, has died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.
Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland was at that point the best fusion of African and Western music; one of the main reasons for its artistic success was his use of South African musicians. Yet Simon drew criticism for breaking a cultural boycott of South Africa, even though the artists he employed were black.
It was under these auspices that I found myself in Atlanta reviewing Simon's Graceland tour. Miriam Makeba was a guest artist, along with the a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others.
Backstage after the show was like none I've seen before or since. The mood was serious not celebratory. In a large conference room, people milled around having serious conversations, sipping a bit of wine, seriously.
At one point, a protester verbally attacked Makeba, criticizing her for breaking the cultural embargo. The man got louder and louder. Makeba kept her cool, remained an elegant figure deserving of her nickname "Mama Africa."
As I recall, security did not step in to usher the protester out, which I thought was a magnanimous gesture. Simon tried to talk reason in that mild-manner, soft-spoken way of his. Finally, Makeba gracefully exited.
Makeba was an important and incendiary figure at the time. I interviewed her briefly and was taken with her dignity.
Here's a clip of a Makeba performance with Simon.
Comments (8)
Showing 1-8 of 8
I remember hearing Miriam Makeba sing when I was a child and I loved her phrasing. She was a courageous artist who defied a lot of conventions and was still true to her music.
like
dislike
Audiences and artists alike often resent the fact that art happens in a context. We think an artist's work will suffer if they acknowledge loyalty to anything other than beauty and craft. Miriam Makeba is a living testament to the inaccuracy of this position. She made no pretense of creating in the vacuum of abstraction. She engaged with the world and her art was a product of that engagement. If only more artists had her courage and skill.
She was a courageous artist who defied a lot of conventions and was still true to her music. thanks for your information!
We have been banned and have a considerable amount of money owed to us. http://www.anfworld.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-jeans.html http://www.anfworld.com/ruehl-no-925.html
DllErrorsFix is an dll errors fix tool.DllErrorsFix can repair and fix dll errors easy, safe and fast. DllErrorsFix will not collect or use any information about the visitors to the Web Site and your visit to the Web Site is anonymous.
Author Archives
-
Concert review: Richard Thompson at Tampa Theatre 1
The British musician offered up an evening full of jaw-dropping guitartistry at his Feb. 3 show.
-
The family that plays together ... Tedeschi Trucks Band hits Ruth Eckerd Hall on Thursday 1
After a decade of marriage, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi finally share the same band.
- More »
