Who is Miriam Makeba? Height, Parents, Net Worth, Wedding, Nationality

 

Miriam Makeba was born on March 4, 1932, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her mother, Christina Makeba, was a Swazi Sangoma (traditional healer), and her father, Timoth Makeba, was a Xhosa farmer. She had five siblings.

Makeba began singing as a child, and by the age of 18, she had joined the Manhattan Brothers, a popular South African vocal group. She toured Europe and Africa with the group before moving to New York City in 1959.

In 1960, Makeba married musician Hugh Masekela. The couple had a daughter, Bongi, but divorced after four years.

Makeba’s career took off in the United States after she appeared in the film “Come Back, Africa” (1959). She went on to release several successful albums, including “The World of Miriam Makeba” (1960) and “Miriam Makeba” (1961). She also starred in the films “Buck and the Preacher” (1972) and “Sarafina!” (1992).

Makeba was an outspoken critic of the South African government’s policies of apartheid. In 1963, she was denied re-entry into South Africa after performing at a concert in support of the country’s anti-apartheid movement. She remained in exile for the next 30 years.

In 1964, Makeba married Black Panther leader Stokely Carmichael. The couple moved to Guinea, where Carmichael was given a position in the government. They divorced in 1978.

Makeba returned to South Africa in 1990, after the country’s apartheid laws were repealed. She continued to perform and record until her death in 2008.

Makeba was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 and the National Medal of Arts in 1999. She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her album “An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba” (1965).

Makeba had an estimated net worth of $1 million at the time of her death.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia