From "Pata Pata" to Come Back, Africa: Miriam Makeba and Her Fight Against Apartheid, 1953-1990

Perhaps one of the most notorious periods in African history was that of Apartheid – a system of racial, political, social, and economic discrimination placed upon the non-white majority of South Africa. Beginning in 1948 and lasting until the early 1990s, Apartheid marked a significant transformation in not only African liberation movements but also those happening across the globe, including the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. While the efforts to overcome Apartheid and empower the overall messages of African liberation and solidarity are well-documented, there are several methods of achieving these goals that have been unfortunately overlooked. Figures such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko have become synonymous with the fight against Apartheid in the political and judicial spheres, but one incredibly effective sphere has remained somewhat shrouded in the background: music. During Apartheid, a woman by the name of Miriam Makeba used her music to spread messages about black South African community and resilience while simultaneously reflecting on the struggles of black South Africans among the discrimination and oppression they were experiencing. This project’s purpose is to analyze and discuss Miriam Makeba’s role in the Anti-Apartheid Movement through the lens of her music and acting career, and it will cover the Anti-Apartheid Movement as a whole using a variety of sources, including films, journal articles, documentaries, and more.