French singer’s ‘Mama Africa’ video goes viral
MIRIAM Makeba’s beat is going global again, thanks to a young French singer.
Jain has released a music video, Makeba.
The video has attracted more than 750 000 Youtube views since its release by Jain last week.
Remembered as Mama Africa, and best known for the song Pata Pata, Makeba played a key role in popularising African music internationally. She was also a civil rights activist. In a post on Facebook, Jain wrote: “Miriam Makeba’s songs have followed me through the countries where I lived. By her strength and her voice, she became a symbol to me.
“It is a symbolic clip, where South Africa is put forward, where art and rhythm are mixed, and where cultures are in harmony,” she wrote.
“Between street artist, pantsula dancers, fanfares and musicians, it is also a personal meeting with South African artists around the music. Viva Mama Africa!!! “Her voice is part of my childhood. “In Paris, I discovered a lot of my friends knew nothing about her. I found that sad, so I wrote the song,” Jain said.
“The idea was to modernise Miriam Makeba so people my age might search her out.”
Singer and songwriter Jain, 24, released her first album, Zanaka, in November last year.
The album’s 10 songs are a diary that documents Makeba’s life from 16 to 23.
On the video, Jain sings: “Nobody can beat the Mama Africa. You follow the beat that she’s gonna give you. I need a smile you can love. Make it go, the sufferation of a thousand more.”