One of the unforgettable highlights of this year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival was the performance of Miriam Makeba or Mama Africa, one of South Africa musical legends.

Apart from joy and excitement, there was sadness amongst the crowd as it was the very last concert of Mama Africa's last and Grand Finale Tour. Prior to her concert at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, CapeTownMagazine.com was present at Miriam Makeba's press conference. To hear what she had to say and if this was really the end.

"Yes, this is it," Makeba said without thinking twice. "I am 74 years old and my body is tired. I have been in the music business for over 50 years, you see. I don't say I will never sing again. I am prepared to sing for very special occasions. For very special money," Makeba says bursting out in laughter.

Speaking about money: has her multi-decade musical career made Makeba a rich woman? "No, I haven't made a lot of money at all. I was the queen of benefit", says Makeba, who over the decades performed at many benefit concerts in South Africa and the rest of the world.

"Nevertheless I am a very very lucky woman. I lived long enough to see democracy and freedom being established in my country and thus I had the opportunity to, after 30 years in exile, come home! That was one of the highlights of my life."

"Another highlight was the birth of my great grand children, just like the founding of my Centre for Girls," Makeba says. In 2003 Mama Africa opened the Makeba Rehabilitation Centre for Girls in Johannesburg, to provide a stabile home for girls in need.

"So, I might not be a millionaire in terms of money, but I am a billionaire when it comes to love. I have received so much from people I ran into over the years, " Makeba continues.

Being a veteran in South Africa's music industry Miriam Makeba has advice for young artists and musicians, in South Africa but also anywhere else in the world. "Stay ... away ... from drugs! In our industry it seems very easy to take that route but unfortunately that route does not take you very far. So please: stay away!"

Source:  CapeTownMagazine.com / April 1st 2006

• More about Miriam Makeba on Pulse: Click here!
• More about Miriam Makeba's last concert: Click here!

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