Mercy Pakela - Mama Ndiyalila (2024) Hi-Res

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond dispute one of South Africa's true legends. Born March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, Miriam Makeba was barely 21 years old when she, as a member of the Manhattan Brothers, reached for the stars in her home country. It didn't take long before Miriam Makeba's career was brought to another level. In 1966 she received a Grammy Award for the album An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba, making her the first African artist to win a Grammy. Her star rose further when she released her 1967 globally acclaimed Pata Pata, including the worldwide hit "Qongqothwane" (better known as the 'Click Song'). Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography .

The lyrics to "Mama" by Miriam Makeba are in Xhosa, a language spoken in South Africa, and they express grief, loss, and desire for unity. The repeated refrain "Mama ndiyalila, oh ndililel' umuzi kaBawo mama" translates to "Mama, I am crying, I have left my father's house." The singer is mourning the loss of her home and is calling out to her mother for comfort. She repeats the refrain several times, emphasizing her pain and desperation.