Gugu Sibiya

Gugu Sibiya

Internationally acclaimed musical icon and humanitarian Miriam Makeba, who died of a heart attack in Caserta, southern Italy, will be cremated there and her ashes brought back to South Africa by her grandson Lumumba Lee.

Makeba, 76, left South Africa with Lee last Wednesday and landed in Holland after the scheduled time.

The weather had apparently been bad, and when she called Sowetan, she confessed to being tired.

"We are tired and hungry. The weather was not okay, so landing was a bit delayed. We will have something to eat later, but now I just want to rest," she said.

Makeba was saddened by Barrack Obama's grandmother's death. She insisted that Obama was a strong man who would weather the tragedy.

By the time Makeba died, she already knew that Obama was going to change the face of world politics.

When Makeba left Holland for Italy, she was in good health, according to her granddaughter Zenzi.

"I think people should take consolation that she died after doing something she loved most, singing."

Makeba had sung for half an hour for the young author of Gomorrah, Roberto Saviano, at Castel Volturno near Naples. Her band returns today.