Mama Africa - Miriam Makeba

Mika Kaurismäki’s documentary about world-famous South African singer
Miriam Makeba, who spent half a century travelling the world spreading
her political message to fight racism, poverty and promote justice and
peace, is a tribute to a woman who embodied the hopes and the voice of
Africa as no other.



Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) was an inspiration to musicians all over the
world and a delight for international audiences. Nonetheless she remained
true to her South African musical roots. Forced into early exile in 1959 as a
result of her involvement in the documentary indictment of Apartheid
"Come Back, Africa", Harry Belafonte helped her to gain entry to the USA
where in 1962 she appeared at John F. Kennedy’s birthday party among
other venues, and scored her first international hit with "Pata Pata". Finding
herself in the sights of the FBI following her marriage to Black Panther
activist Stokely Carmichael in 1968, she decided to settle in Guinea where
she continued to fight the white Apartheid regime in her native land.



Making use of rare documentary footage and a plethora of interviews, this
film portrays the life of this exceptional artiste and her music; a performer
who, for more that fifty years, never failed to created a stir wherever she
went. The film includes testimonials from friends, relatives and colleagues –
both young proponents of African music as well as those who have known
and cherished Miriam Makeba since her earliest beginnings in the dance
halls of Cape Town.

Source: 61. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)