Rwandans mourn Makeba

The death of Miriam Makeba, Africa’s best known singer and a champion of the fight against apartheid was received with shock in Rwanda. Makeba who died of a heart attack after a performance in Italy was known for her songs like; “Malayike”, “Mama Africa” and the “Empress of African Song.” “Its unbelievable that such a Godly and most inspiring person could die,” says Intore Masaba, Rwanda’s cultural musician in an interview with The New Times on phone. Masamba who performed on the same stage with the deceased on June, 20, 2005, on World Refugee Day in Genève, Switzerland, recalls that Makeba was a powerful soft-spoken woman, who fought for the rights of Africans, and especially women and children. Miss JOJO was extremely touched by the tragic news. “No! I can’t believe this! Miriam Makeba was such a great person and hope to many African women, she didn’t deserve death!” mourned Miss JOJO, a local Rnb singer. Alex Muhozi, 29, Makeba’s fan said he was sad and wished Makeba’s soul to rest in internal peace. Miss Shanel, a local musician described the deceased as a mother of Africa. He said she remembers the deceased through “Malayika”, a song that hit international airwaves late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Makeba fell ill after a concert organised against crime in the southern Italian town of Baia Verde late on Sunday, her publicist said. Makeba came from humble beginnings in a shantytown near Johannesburg. The former domestic servant first started to sing in her school choir and learned new songs by listening to recordings of American jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald. She mixed jazz with traditional African sounds and punctuated some songs with the clicks of her Xhosa language. Ends

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Rwandans mourn Makeba