[Belafonte]'d take me to perform for Martin Luther King's cause. But when they were marching I did not take part, because I was not a citizen Miriam Makeba More Quotes by Miriam Makeba More Quotes From Miriam Makeba And I believe that it becomes a troubled continent because there are those who must always cause confusion so that we do not keep these natural resources. Miriam Makeba causes confusion believe African music, though very old, is always being rediscovered in the West. Miriam Makeba african-music music west I'm not a politician; I am a singer. Long ago, they said, 'That one, she sings politics.' I don't sing politics; I merely sing the truth. Miriam Makeba long-ago singers singing The tragedy of civil wars in countries like Angola and Mozambique is that they left many civilians maimed. Poverty is the reason HIV/AIDS spread so rapidly in the African townships and slums. Poverty is the real killer. Miriam Makeba real war country But if you are going to wear blinders then you do not know the world. Miriam Makeba blinders knows world People in the United States still have a 'Tarzan' movie view of Africa. That's because in the movies all you see are jungles and animals . . . We [too] watch television and listen to the radio and go to dances and fall in love. Miriam Makeba falling-in-love views animal When I was young, I never bought records because my brother Joseph played saxophone and had a record player. I loved listening to his records: The Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, all the big American jazz bands, and vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, Ernestine Anderson, and Kitty White, a singer from the US who was a friend of Nina Simone. Nobody in America seems to know about her, but she was quite popular in South Africa. Miriam Makeba brother player white It's a really unfair world because life is, where I am; all day long we listen to American music. So I don't see why the radios in the U.S. cannot even put aside one hour a day just to play music that is not American. Miriam Makeba play long world I look at the past and I see myself. Miriam Makeba looks past He [Belafonte] was a good teacher and looked after me. He said, 'You have such great talent, you must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine. It was good advice when I found myself speaking at the UN Committee Against Apartheid and then the UN General Assembly. Miriam Makeba advice trying teacher It is very much the theme of our President, President Thabo Mbeki, whose passion is for Africa to work together, and for Africans to get up and do things for us. We are trying as women to do things for ourselves. Miriam Makeba passion working-together trying I have to go and say farewell to all the countries that I have been to, if I can. I am 73 now, it is taxing on me. Miriam Makeba farewell funny country my thoughts are like quick little fish that swim out of my grasp. Miriam Makeba my-thoughts swim littles In the mind, in the heart, I was always home. I always imagined, really, going back home. Miriam Makeba back-home home heart It was hard to be away from home, but I am glad that I am home now. Miriam Makeba away-from-home glad home And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite. Miriam Makeba country people thinking Belafonte sent his people to pick me up and I went back and shook his hand, then went back to my little flat. I was very happy to have met a president of the United States - little me! Miriam Makeba pick-me-up hands people I didn't have much, but I was always happy to share what I did have. It seemed like every African that came to New York City would show up at my apartment door at dinnertime, and I couldn't turn them away. I wasn't much older than any of them, but they started calling me 'Mama Africa' and the name stuck. Miriam Makeba cities new-york doors I titled the album Reflections because I am reflecting on my music career. Miriam Makeba albums careers reflection In those years, when I came to the States, people were always asking me why I didn't sing anymore. I'd tell them, 'I sing all around the world-Asia, Africa, Europe-but if you don't sing in the US, then you haven't really made it.' That's why I'll always be grateful to Paul Simon. He allowed me to bring my music back to my friends in this country. Miriam Makeba grateful country years
