South African singer Miriam Makeba, one of Africa’s best known voices and a champion of the fight against apartheid, has died of a heart attack after a performance in Italy. She was 76.
Known as “Mama Africa” and the “Empress of African Song,” Makeba was the first black South African musician to gain international fame, winning renown in the United States in the 1950s with her sweeping vocals.
Makeba fell ill after a concert against organized crime in the southern Italian town of Baia Verde late on Sunday, her publicist said. She died after being rushed to a clinic in the town of Castel Volturno.
“It was from a heart attack, but she had not been well for some time,” publicist Mark Lechat told Reuters. He said Makeba had also been suffering from arthritis.
Makeba won attention on the international stage as lead singer for the South African band The Manhattan Brothers. In New York, she worked with Harry Belafonte.
Exiled after speaking out against apartheid, Makeba created classics such as “The Click Song” and “Pata Pata.”
Rest In Peace Mama Africa!
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