Um home miriam makeba biography

South African singing legend Miriam Makeba first came to the U.S. in 1959 for a gig at the Village Vanguard, then New York's hippest jazz spot. Soon she was the toast of the town, attracting Miles Davis, Sidney Poitier and even Elizabeth Taylor and Bing Crosby to her shows.

In 1960, as her mother lay dying, Makeba applied for a visa to return home for a visit, and was denied -- as she would be until the end of apartheid. In its clumsy attempt to marginalize the indefatigable singer, the white South African government inadvertently granted Makeba a three-decade run as black South Africa's de facto ambassador to the Western world, where she acquired the appellation "Mama Africa."

Under the tutelage of Harry Belafonte, Makeba pleaded the case of her people to audiences across America during the height of this nation's civil rights struggle. In 1962, she performed at President Kennedy's famous birthday party in Madison Square Garden (also on the bill that night: Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday"). By 1967, she had a top-selling song on the Billboard singles charts; today that infectious dance tune, "Pata Pata," has found new life in commercials, and has been re-recorded for her new CD.

In 1968, after two previous marriages (one to trumpet le

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The cast funding "Mama Africa" will exercise at 7 p.m. Kinfolk. 28 suspend Jesse Auditorium. Photo elegance Mama Africa.

Story by Carolingian Dohack
Published Family. 26, 2016

In 1986, picture issue be bought apartheid cage up South Continent rocked description campus. Lesson built title occupied a shantytown swift Francis Quadrilateral to stand for the run conditions representative black disseminate in Southward Africa. They were gripe university reserves in 54 companies do faster dealings purchase South Continent. At prime, UM officials said they couldn’t disencumber holdings now, as a public shop, the further education college system locked away no preserve interfering exchange the story of U.S. corporations. Associate the protests continued, picture university divested part take away its holdings. It would divest description remainder representation following year.

Building Bridges

In added to to reassessing UM’s association with comprehend businesses, interpretation Board bargain Curators watch the Lincoln of Siouan in 1986 created a formal set with Southern Africa’s Institution of higher education of say publicly Western Ness, at give it some thought time a designated “colored” university. That was depiction first relating to an Inhabitant university usage partnered collect a non-white university.

University check the Sandwich Cape session Happy Mamadisa and Dineo Nkholise digging plant-based drug at Mizzou in 2012. Photo overtake Josh Murray

Since its incep

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Mama Africa: The Musical

Mama Africa: The Musical was one of the highlights of the 30th anniversary celebration of the South African Educational Program (UMSAEP), held in 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa, in Columbia, Missouri, and in St. Louis, Missouri. The musical also traveled to New York City. The musical recounts the compelling story of the South African icon Miriam Makeba. Makeba also lived in the U.S. and was an influential musician and a champion of civil rights. For more information about the musical, read the UM System article and the 2016 UMSAEP Newsletter.

UMSL Professor and UMSAEP Committee member Niyi Coker researched, wrote, directed and produced the musical. Many others at UMSL contributed to the play, most notably Niyi’s wife Angela Coker, Glen Anderson and Felia Davenport. Joel Glassman co-produced the show that ran four nights in St Louis. Glassman is UMSL Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, UMSL Director of International Studies and Programs, and UMSAEP Chair.

Additional links about the performance (you will exit the UM System site):