Fifty Four mag’s mission is to honour distinct regions and cultures throughout Africa’s 54 continents. We can’t do that without paying homage to the people from our past who have paved the way and those who are presently putting our talent on display. We call them ‘movers and shakers,’ and in each issue, we’ll feature a few of our favourites.
If you aren’t familiar with these cultural icons, we want you to be. Get to know them afresh and find some new favourites to follow.
MIRIAM MAKEBA
The sounds of the late, great, Grammy award-winning Miriam Makeba - widely known as Mama Africa - will forever move us. A South African singer, songwriter, and actress, she was known for blending jazz with traditional African melodies. Along with popularising Afropop with a Western audience, Makeba’s vocal range was nothing short of dynamic.
Beyond beats and melodies, she also lent the power of her voice to the anti-apartheid movement and became known as one of its most outspoken advocates. From testifying against the South African government at the United Nations and becoming involved in the civil rights movement to having her music banned in South Africa and living in exile for three decades, Makeba’s commitment to humanitarian causes made her a target of both African and Western governments. Her songs and life’s work were haunting and hopeful, both defined by hardship and driven by the desire to use this one precious life to inspire change.
photo: Trevor Stuurman