"Mama Africa" dies

Performing to the very end, South African legend Miriam Makeba died Monday after suffering a heart attacked. She lived to 76.

But most importantly she lived to be able to return to South Africa after 30 years in exile for her leadership in the anti-apartheid movement. She was banned for being a part of an anti-apartheid documentary and for her work touring around the US singing and raising awareness.

via BBC:

1932: Born Johannesburg, South Africa
1959: Stars in the jazz opera King Kong and anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, met Harry Belafonte
1960: Barred from South Africa
1963: Testifies against apartheid at the United Nations
1966: Becomes the first African woman to win a Grammy award
1968: Marries Black Panther Stokely Carmichael and moves to Guinea
1985: Moves to Brussels after her child Bongi dies in childbirth
1990: Returns to South Africa after personal request from Nelson Mandela
2005: Begins a "farewell tour" of the world that lasts three years

She lived to see so much, Madiba's freeing from Prison and assention to the Presidency in South Africa. To the reconcilliation. And to just days before her death the landmark election in the US. (boy that was a poor summary for such an amazing woman and talented artist)

Let me just say that she was an important voice, confident, beautiful, and touching. She will be profoundly missed.

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