Documentary review; Mama Africa

By Caleb Mutua

Miriam Makeba was an African celebrated music icon both as a gifted singer and as an indomitable civil rights activist. What many people did not know, however, is her cloistered life and her love for the people of Africa. For those who loved her, Mika Kaurismaki has used archival footages, interviews and excerpts from Makeba’s legendary performances to make a Mama Africa souvenir for you.

A rather shy Mama Africa starts the documentary recounting how her mother was detained when she was only 18 days old for selling umqombothi, a homemade beer. She later released “Pata Pata” which made her famous in Africa and America. While on a tour in London, she meets Harry Belafonte who helps her get to the United States. She testifies against apartheid before the United Nations. Her fame in the U.S suffer a severe blow when she marries Stokely Carmichael,a Black Panther civil rights activists. She relocates to Guinea where she stays until Nelson Mandela persuades her to return to South Africa after his release.

The ease with which black and white B rolls of a smiling Mama Africa with her captivating afro look takes us back to early 1950s is recommendable. The documentary gains immense credibility by interviewing people who were influential in Makeba’s life like her daughter, former husband Hugh Masekela and her fellow musicians like Harry belafonte. Clips of Mama Africa on stage makes you dance to her songs of joy, love, and revolution. A clear narration and instances of comic relief help thread the history of the legendary Mama Africa together.

Mika Kaurismaki has dropped a bombshell. After his award winning hit Zombie and the Ghost Train, Mika has restlessly continued to entertain his audience. Just when dust was beginning to settle after the release of The House of Branching love and later Vesku from Finland, Mika has done Miriam Makeba justice by retelling her story in a documentary that is set to flood movie theatres.

First published in February 2012.