Tula Ndivile

Going down the rabbit hole of jazz in the 1960s and 1970s led us to Johnny Dyani, which of course led back to Miriam Makeba. There's something so majestic and uplifting about her singing in these early South African vocal groups, like the Manhattan Brothers. I also recall shocking a South African person when, back in the day, I could sing some of these tunes.

Into Yam

"Into Yam" has long been one of our favorite songs performed by Miriam Makeba. Ever since hearing it in the trailer in Come Back, Africa, actually. To make it even more amazing, Miriam Makeba performed it live in 1978 with Dollar Brand, or Abdullah Ibrahim. There's something majestic in South African music, and their jazz tradition is also exemplary. Combining the two is always a good idea, as Johnny Dyani and other South African jazz artists have demonstrated.

Ndodemnyama

While reading Jemima Pierre's thought-provoking piece on the reality of post-apartheid South Africa, I could not help but play the above anti-apartheid song. The article also has a great title ("Reconciliation is Not Decolonization"). Jemima Pierre is an excellent cultural anthropologist who has demolished so much of the academic/sociological material written by mostly white 'scholars' on race, black immigrants in the US, and West Indian/Caribbean ethnic groups in the US as drivel motivated by white stereotypes of the 'black underclass' and blackness itself. She also appears to be an astute observer and follower of trends in African history, no doubt perhaps influenced by her anthropological research. As a Haitian-American, Pierre's work has been valuable for undermining stereotypes of native African-Americans while also enlightening for African affairs. 

Miriam's Goodbye To Africa

The Skylarks are one of my favorite South African vocal groups and everybody knows I love Miriam Makeba. I should've been singing this song when I left South Africa, but, alas, I was not aware of "Goodbye to Africa" at the time. Though the organ and intro are a little cheesy, this is a beautiful song predicting Makeba's future deep sorrow about not being able to return home, to South Africa, for decades. "Good bye Mother, good bye Father, and to you, my little baby, good bye until we meet again!" Though far from being the best song by The Skylarks, one cannot help but feel the longing and love of Makeba for her homeland, or the song's relevance to her future life, post-Skylarks. Check out this for another good song by The Skylarks I did not discover until quite recently. As one can probably guess, I love this jazzy South African period of music. Rest in peace, Miriam Makeba!

Miriam Makeba in The Cosby Show

Say what you will about Bill Cosby, but his groundbreaking sitcom was and forever shall be linked to positive black images as well as countering racism. His show promoted African-American and African music, art, culture, history, and struggle even if the show was weak in tackling issues of daily experiences with racism that lower-class blacks encounter. I recently re-discovered that one of my favorite singers, Miriam Makeba, from South Africa, appeared on the show in "Olivia Comes Out of the Closet." As a child, I grew up watching the show and never made the connection that the famous international music legend and anti-apartheid activist Makeba appared on The Cosby Show. She speaks eloquently on the natural beauty of the African continent, the struggles against obstacles in South Africa (presumably a subtle way of referring to the anti-apartheid movement), and the mainstream depictions of Africa in totalizing narratives of poverty and chaos. Rest in peace, Makeba, I, as a younger soul, devoured not only your words but other well-known stars and figures in the African and African diasporic communities. Watch the clip I could find on youtube here.

I also wrote about The Cosby Show in a separate post that began a few years ago with a friend asking about my thoughts on the show's relevance to race relations. That can be found here if anyone is interested.

Saduva, or Tula Ndivile

Believe it or not, I did not recognize that these two songs are indeed the same, proof of why I need to learn some Xhosa, or whatever language this song is in. Though her early recording of the song with the Manhattan Brothers is my preferred because of the background vocals and the instrumentation's style (less "Americanized" in the sense of Makeba's later recordings), her voice really shines later. Still, the later, funkier version at a faster tempo is quite uplifting! Another later recording, sung slowly with more attention to her angelic voice's approach, is another highlight of South Africa's greatest singer. Upon discovering "Saduva" is the same song she performed with the Manhattan Brothers earlier in her career, I wonder how many of Makeba's solo songs were not covers of her early repertoire...

Malayisha

"Malayisha" is a fun, bouncy South African tune sung in Xhosa, I believe. I cannot tell if it's a traditional song or not, but Miriam Makeba as well as The Manhattan Brothers, a group she performed with, have recorded versions of the song in what may be the mbaqanga style or marabi style. Anywho, if it is a folk song, then it appears to be a work song about a lumberjack. Enjoy!

Miriam Makeba's version is my favorite. Her voice soars above and beyond the chorus in that irresistible style and beautiful lyrics.

The Manhattan Brothers try, but fall far behind Miriam Makeba. Their version is more rooted in kwela and marabi, probably because it was recorded in the 1950s. Catchy, though not nearly as powerful, in terms of vocals, than that of Mama Africa.

Ginette Ravel does a nice cover based on Makeba's that's not unbearable. Here is a European version that ain't too bad, either.

A South African choir sings "Malayisha" here and it's also quite infectious. Unfortunately, it begins with a Zulu song that isn't nearly quite as playful or upbeat.

Anti-Apartheid Songs

Gil Scott-Heron's Johannesburg is a funky track about apartheid South Africa. As always, Scott-Heron's conscious, politically-charged material is enjoyable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDkQY6cOH0s

Max Roach's Tears for Johannesburg refers to the Sharpeville Massacre where anti-apatheid protesters were shot and killed. At least 69 were murdered and the recent massacre of striking mine workers at Marikana echoed the Sharpeville Massacre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgNWYmgdO5Q

Max Roach's Man from South Africa is a jazz piece composed in honor for anti-apartheid South Africans. Roach, a committed black nationalist, was also dedicated to African liberation and the American Civil Rights Movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3aALURKt1U

Ibrahim Abdullah's Mannenberg refers to District 6 of Cape Town, which was forcibly evacuated during apartheid. Apparently the melody came from some old marabi song, which can be heard here. Read about it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJw6weFdJOw

Ndodemnyama (Miriam Makeba) is a song composed by a South African who was executed during apartheid while singing his anti-apartheid anthem. The song is a warning to Verwoerd, the architect of South Africa's apartheid policy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYwgmOxhUvk

Khawuleza (Miriam Makeba) is a beautiful song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwi_MdAdyHc

Bob Marley's War makes references to apartheid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9DXaXufh8

A Tribe Called Quest's Steve Biko (Stir It Up) is not really about Steve Biko or apartheid, but does mention him in the title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItLBiHG9gc

Peter Gabriel's Biko is actually about Steve Biko, the leader of the Black Consciousness Movement during anti-apartheid days. A stirring tribute from Peter Gabriel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ncVyxQRw70

The list of anti-apartheid songs is obviously quite extensive. A future post will give additional songs.

Mbube, or, The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)

Miriam Makeba beautifully performs "Mbube," better known in the US as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," an enchanting song recorded by Solomon Linda back in 1939. Based on Zulu vocal choruses, Solomon Linda's song has traveled around the world, performed by American folk artists since the 1950s as well as internationally-renowned anti-apartheid singer, Miriam Makeba. This version, by Makeba, is by far my favorite. Her voice soars to the heavens and takes the listener with her. Her other version is also good, but slowed down and includes influences from American music.

Check out the original here. As well as a previous post about "Mbube" on this blog which features additional versions of the song. Enjoy!

Amazing World of "World" Music

An incomplete playlist of Jamaican rocksteady, reggae, and ska music with some Jamaican-influenced songs from the US and UK. Worth listening to here.

A West African music playlist including Afrobeat, highlife, folk music, mbalax, and other genres from Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali. Enjoy!

An Art Blakey playlist, also incomplete, but a good start. Listen!

Rough start on a John Coltrane playlist here.

Brazilian playlists galore! I have 3 different playlists encompassing MPB, samba, bossa nova, jazz, and a few other genres, such as baiao.
Check them out here, here, here, and here.

A Blues playlist here

A playlist including Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, and other Chicago soul artists here

A Soul/R&B playlist also worth checking out

Congolese rumba 

Latin Jazz

Boogaloo/Latin Soul including many of the best Nuyorican artists of the genre's zenith in the 1960s

Miriam Makeba, South African kwela, marabi, and jazz included here

Hip-hop playlist as well

Mama Africa: The Best of Miriam Makeba

Here is a list of my favorite songs by South African legend Miriam Makeba, an illustrious anti-apartheid artist who left South Africa in the 1960s, married Stokely Carmichael (after a marriage to South African jazz legend Hugh Masakela), and remained a constant figure of opposition to the apartheid government of South Africa. What fascinating me about her is diverse styles she mastered, beginning with American-styled doo wop and jazz in the 1950s to folk and "world music" of later decades. I first heard of her through listening to Harry Belafonte, the Caribbean-American folksinger, actor, and civil rights activist, who actually recorded an album in the 1960s with Miriam Makeba. What drew me to Makeba from that record was their duet on "Malaika," a Swahili love song from Kenya, meaning "angel." Makeba's divine voice, with such range and emotion, led me to listening to some of her other songs, including the famous "Pata Pata" (Touch Touch, I believe) that became an international hit in the 1960s. Her version of "Mbube," an old song dating back to Zulu workers in the mines of South Africa in the 1930s, is better known as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the United States, but quite beautiful when sang in the original language. She undoubtedly possessed one of the finest voices in South African popular music.
Check out this interview

"Pata Pata" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq5S5sH1Ikk
Live versions of the same song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-VrfadKbco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87S_wbCsNbQ&feature=related

"Malaika" with Harry Belafonte http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVrtrB84_AA&feature=related

"Siyavuya" is an example of Miriam singing in a vocal group influenced by American jazz and doo wop. Beautiful language, beautiful music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeEA0QpcFAA&feature=fvwrel

"Ema Juba" another catchy number. This township jazz stuff is really great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qVpnpoRuEI&feature=relmfu

"Orlando" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPLIJ16mvrI&feature=related

"L'enfant et la Gazelle" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKvcRD9Ekbk&feature=related

"Lakutshn Ilanga" is where Miriam shows off her chops as a jazz vocalist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d99wc8LGDpw&feature=related

"Nongqongqo (To Those We Love)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3upHN5sqd8&feature=fvwrel

"Forbidden Games" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65z0mmTv19c

Cover of "Chove Chuva" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4dT7l7sWVg

Cover of "Mas Que Nada" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oztzZu5zPzs

"Kilimanjaro" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7coXOfz5zY0&feature=related

"Khawuleza" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74f9eIi9c0&feature=related

"Mbube" is also known as "Wimoweh"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fEHguhykD8
Another version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G85hfwX2dVk
Original version of the same song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrQT4WkbNE&feature

Live version of something that's good
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4LAIR4tLfI

"Into Yam" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWZ1f0Cdt1A
Live from a film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buod66bq0cg

"Ekoneni" features Spokes Mashiyane on pennywhistle for that kwela sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rl9si_juLk

"Pole Mze" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxGtYr-b1SU&feature=related

"Little Boy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_2HJDqmjPw&feature=relmfu

"Umhome" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAeN4wpDq54&feature=relmfu

"Tula Ndivile" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVhdYx9uOIk&feature=related

cover of "Xica da Silva" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrOXVMTYq3I&feature=related

"Click Song" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9-j4H6kCc&feature=related

"The Retreat Song" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfKJ_gzcSTA&feature=related

"Qhude" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skEtS6WDaO4&feature=related

"Lovely Lies" became a minor hit in the USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6xjRtoyy74

"Uile Ngwan'a Batho"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDKz7EvcX8

"Inkomo Zodwa" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOKsbnSwiIE&feature=related

"Holili" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1RBiw8qOB0&feature=related

"Teya Teya" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTCWIBOt4do&feature=related

"Back of the Moon" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgsw_ViRHXA&feature=related

"Angilalanga"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmHDgv1SU6E&feature=related

"Jolinkomo" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYFR6BUekYk&feature=related

"Ndidliwe Zintaba" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jeLVfnPYc&feature=relmfu

"Saduva" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQr9bvVDprk&feature=related

'Maria Fulo" cover, originally by Os Mutantes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6eA1WF-EM

"Nomeva" is a Xhosa song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8XHVItxUgQ&feature=related

"African Sunset" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2gMLCLSZ9w&feature=related

"Malayisha" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwYpuZlVtUg&feature=related

"Zulu Song" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k27LiD3YDZ4&feature=related

"Lumumba" is funky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0GPm1azbZI&feature=related

"Lalelani Bantwana" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsm4XZKK74

"Under African Skies" with Paul Simon, live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC93Q75I2NY&feature=related