It was with great sadness that I heard this morning that one of South Africa’s most famous daughters, Miriam Makeba, passed away last night after performing her last concert in Italy. News reports state that she collapsed back stage after performing in Naples at the Castel Volturno, whose audience will certainly never forget the night that an African queen gave all at a show, after which she could just give no more.

She will always remain a legend, not only in South Africa, but the world over, as a classic performer whose life was is as much a part of this countries history, as her music is part of our collective culture.

We last worked with Ma Miriam two years ago, and ever since then, she has been threatening that each show would be her last, as she had announced that she was going to retire way back in 2005 – but as with her last night, she continued to be drawn to the stage. I suppose that if she had stopped back in 2005, she might’ve gone earlier than she has, because to be up on stage was where she was the Miriam Makeba that truly shone; she was whole; she was the queen, she was Mama Africa.

We hope that her family will allow us all to grieve with them; that we can all share the memory of Miriam Makeba. That we can be thankful that she has been such a powerful personality; someone who has given so much of herself on behalf of the children of this country; and their future; and people all over the world who we were touched by remarkable voice. Ultimately – she will be remembered as being a voice of South Africa.

Hamba Kahle Ma Makeba