Miriam Makeba's 81st birthday marked by Google doodle

Birth name	Zenzile Miriam Makeba
Also known as	Mama Africa
Born	4 March 1932 Prospect Township, Johannesburg, South Africa
Died	9 November 2008 (aged 76) Castel Volturno, Italy
Genres	Marabi, World music, folk, pop rock, jazz
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, actress
Years active	1954–2008

n the 1960s she was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music in the U.S. and around the world. She is best known for the song "Pata Pata", first recorded in 1957 and released in the U.S. in 1967. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such asHarry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and her former husband Hugh Masekela.

She actively campaigned against the South African system of apartheid. As a result, the South African government revoked her citizenship and right of return. After the end of apartheid she returned home. She died on 9 November 2008 after performing in a concert in Italy organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation local to the region of Campania.

Miriam Makeba, born Zenzile Miriam Makeba, is the subject of Monday's Google doodle. Makeba was a singer and actress, probably best known for the song "Pata Pata".

Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg on 4 March 1932. Miriam spent the fix six months of her life in jail after her mother was sent to prison for six months for selling illegal beer when she was just eighteen days old. Her father died when Miriam was six years old.

Miriam started singing while she was very young, and was part of the choir of her primary school. Her professional career began in the 1950s when she was featured in the South African jazz group the Manhattan Brothers. She left the Manhattan Brothers to record with her all-woman group, The Skylarks, singing a mix of jazz and traditional melodies of South Africa.

In 1956, she released the single "Pata Pata", which was played on all the radio stations and made her known all over. The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and the song has since been covered by many artists. Originally written and sung in the Xhosa language, the song's title means "touch touch" in English.