when i remember last night
i feel the warm embrace of old friends.
bright beads of proud african decadence:
laughter, tears, introspection, and celebration –
the atmosphere.
miriam whispers in my ear and my heart
and i hope she’s dancing.
oh, how i wish i’d had the chance to tell her
how her journey inspired me
to sing my own stories.
she was the ORIGINAL.
it doesn’t get any hipper or more courageous than
an african woman
touring the world in the 1960s
all breath and truth-telling
if she wasn’t here then, would i be here now?
when i remember last night
i feel the swelter of a packed room
nodding heads dressed in light and shadow
the slap of palm to drum
a shekere meets the roar of applause
meets the sudden hush of ears
longing to hear her have the last word.
and i am humbled, grateful, and inspired:
malaika nakupenda malaika
November 19, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Somi, thank you for giving us a wonderful celebration of Miriam Makeba’s life and music. The evening was incredible. A group of us stood up in the back all night and we are SO glad we did!
‘Kgantsi
January 3, 2009 at 5:07 am
Hello Somi:
Mirianm Makebi was and still is an African princess and heroine. Her music was inspirational and soothing. She was an embodiment of goodness and strength. She fiercely resisted apartheid South Africa, and she devoted her entire life fighting to defeat that evil regime. I am happy she lived to see the end of that ignoble government that has been dumped to ash heap of history.
Last night was the first time I heard your name and your music. I was fortunate enough to listen to the radio interview you granted to Dick Gordon of NPR. Just like Miriam, you have a very powerful voice. Just like Miriam, you are very articulate, intelligent, and inspirational. And just like Miriam, you have a soothing and healing voice. In the face of seemingly insurmountable and intractable problems of Africa, we must all have hope .We must have hope that in the end, the forces of goodness will triumph over the forces of evil. Miriam encouraged us to continue to hope and to believe and to fight for what is right and just.
Peace.
Anyim