THROUGH her music Miriam Makeba - fondly known as Mama Africa - fought against apartheid and in the process endured much pain and sacrificed a great deal.
This week Makeba's legacy is being celebrated, with the National Heritage Council having posthumously awarded the legend the Ubuntu Award at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on the eve of Human Rights Day.
Friends and family reminisced about her and told how Mama Africa touched their lives through letters, which they shared with Sowetan.
lMara Louw - singer, actress and Makeba's best friend - wrote: "Thank you for the unconditional love you showed me.
"Thank you for your guidance, for being a shoulder for me to cry on during some challenging times in my life and assuming the role of a mother.
"Thank you for inspiring me, for being my role model and mostly my best friend and confidante. I gained a lot of wisdom from having you as a friend.
"Thank you Mama Makeba for your bravery and speaking out against injustice through your enormous contribution and caring for thousands of children around the world, especially in Africa.
"I think about you all the time. I miss the good times we shared, the jokes, the laughter as well as your sincere and honest advice, which helped me build my character as a strong, proudly African woman in addition to the strength I received from my [late] mother Charlotte Macindi Louw, my main inspiration and role model.
"Not a day goes by without my talking about you both, for you have both been a great influence in my life. As we face challenges of abuse and violence towards women and children, I wish you were here to add your voices in condemning and helping us fight this evil that is enveloping our beautiful country.
"I am proud of you. I thank God for you, Mama Zenzile Miriam Makeba. You will stay forever in my heart.
May your soul rest in peace."
lZamo Mbutho, friend and band member who was on stage with Makeba during her last performance, describes the day of her passing as a bittersweet moment.
"I will never forget the picture of her face. She was in the deepest sleep, with a smile that you would long for. I wish she could come to our dreams and still give guidance," Mbutho said.
In his letter of honour to his fellow artist, Mbutho wrote: "Since you've been gone your space has not been occupied in my heart.
"This room in my heart will remain yours.
"You were not called Mama Africa for nothing, but because you were a mother with the heart of a leader.
"I remember on one occasion in Switzerland when you cooked for the whole band because you felt we had been away [from home for] too long and that we missed our pap and vleis.
"Right when we were doing the last song you left and as we stepped off the stage the tables were set and we had a feast of home food.
"I miss the times we spent together on tour, on the bus, telling us stories and the history of our country. How men should treat their women, and brothers their sisters.
"I can tell that most of our presidents on the continent have received some advice from you, Mama, which showed that you wished for Africa to progress.
"In the year that you passed on I had written a song for you titled Heaven Can Wait. I begged you to record the song but l guess heaven couldn't wait.
"I feel honoured to have been part of the Makeba entourage and to have shared with you your last 14 glorious years. May your soul rest in peace. I will always love you."
lMakeba's great-grandson, Lindelani Lee, only had praise for the songbird. In his letter of recognition, he wrote: "I have always considered it an honour to be so closely bound to her.
"As many of us will know, she was passionate about both music and spreading awareness of the injustices of discrimination in our country and the rest of the world.
"Beyond her passing I still enjoy the humbling solace of knowing that I was so close to her wholehearted elegance and able to experience and learn the importance of warm fellowship among people.
"My grandmother was involved in many social programmes throughout her life and she started a few of her own projects just so she could personally involve herself in improving the next generation's living conditions.
"I think it's only appropriate that she receives an award relating to the concept of ubuntu as she evidently personified the idea.
"I would like to use this opportunity to continue to spread her message of peace, righteousness and mutual love." - monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za
Tribute to Makeba
THROUGH her music Miriam Makeba - fondly known as Mama Africa - fought against apartheid and in the process endured much pain and sacrificed a great deal.
This week Makeba's legacy is being celebrated, with the National Heritage Council having posthumously awarded the legend the Ubuntu Award at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on the eve of Human Rights Day.
Friends and family reminisced about her and told how Mama Africa touched their lives through letters, which they shared with Sowetan.
lMara Louw - singer, actress and Makeba's best friend - wrote: "Thank you for the unconditional love you showed me.
"Thank you for your guidance, for being a shoulder for me to cry on during some challenging times in my life and assuming the role of a mother.
"Thank you for inspiring me, for being my role model and mostly my best friend and confidante. I gained a lot of wisdom from having you as a friend.
"Thank you Mama Makeba for your bravery and speaking out against injustice through your enormous contribution and caring for thousands of children around the world, especially in Africa.
"I think about you all the time. I miss the good times we shared, the jokes, the laughter as well as your sincere and honest advice, which helped me build my character as a strong, proudly African woman in addition to the strength I received from my [late] mother Charlotte Macindi Louw, my main inspiration and role model.
"Not a day goes by without my talking about you both, for you have both been a great influence in my life. As we face challenges of abuse and violence towards women and children, I wish you were here to add your voices in condemning and helping us fight this evil that is enveloping our beautiful country.
"I am proud of you. I thank God for you, Mama Zenzile Miriam Makeba. You will stay forever in my heart.
May your soul rest in peace."
lZamo Mbutho, friend and band member who was on stage with Makeba during her last performance, describes the day of her passing as a bittersweet moment.
"I will never forget the picture of her face. She was in the deepest sleep, with a smile that you would long for. I wish she could come to our dreams and still give guidance," Mbutho said.
In his letter of honour to his fellow artist, Mbutho wrote: "Since you've been gone your space has not been occupied in my heart.
"This room in my heart will remain yours.
"You were not called Mama Africa for nothing, but because you were a mother with the heart of a leader.
"I remember on one occasion in Switzerland when you cooked for the whole band because you felt we had been away [from home for] too long and that we missed our pap and vleis.
"Right when we were doing the last song you left and as we stepped off the stage the tables were set and we had a feast of home food.
"I miss the times we spent together on tour, on the bus, telling us stories and the history of our country. How men should treat their women, and brothers their sisters.
"I can tell that most of our presidents on the continent have received some advice from you, Mama, which showed that you wished for Africa to progress.
"In the year that you passed on I had written a song for you titled Heaven Can Wait. I begged you to record the song but l guess heaven couldn't wait.
"I feel honoured to have been part of the Makeba entourage and to have shared with you your last 14 glorious years. May your soul rest in peace. I will always love you."
lMakeba's great-grandson, Lindelani Lee, only had praise for the songbird. In his letter of recognition, he wrote: "I have always considered it an honour to be so closely bound to her.
"As many of us will know, she was passionate about both music and spreading awareness of the injustices of discrimination in our country and the rest of the world.
"Beyond her passing I still enjoy the humbling solace of knowing that I was so close to her wholehearted elegance and able to experience and learn the importance of warm fellowship among people.
"My grandmother was involved in many social programmes throughout her life and she started a few of her own projects just so she could personally involve herself in improving the next generation's living conditions.
"I think it's only appropriate that she receives an award relating to the concept of ubuntu as she evidently personified the idea.
"I would like to use this opportunity to continue to spread her message of peace, righteousness and mutual love." - monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za
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