About Mama Africa the musical

Mama Africa The Musical is an evocative story, told in a flurry of dance, music and drama, about a passionate and talented woman who used her music to fight for a cause she believed strongly in. Mariam Makeba’s music preaches the unity of Africa and espouses her pan-Africanist stand. Ms. Makeba was an outspoken advocate against apartheid which the white-minority government didn’t like, so revoked her citizenship and banned her music.

The message is that music still resonates and remains important in uniting not just South Africans, but other Africans in countries troubled by divisive activities. Over the last two decades, violence and unrest has bedeviled Africa. From Niger Delta militancy in the South to Boko Haram terrorism in Northern Nigeria; apartheid and xenophobic attacks in South Africa to genocide and civil war in Rwanda, violence and unrest in DR Congo and Central African Republic and insurgency by the Al-Shabab group in Somalia. Africa is fraught with violence, disunity and division.

Miriam Makeba’s call for unity through her music resonates for all Africans especially now when terrorism, supremacy struggles, civil war and violent unrests have Africans fleeing across borders in search of safe haven. Because Mama Africa The Musical is also about preserving African History and celebrating the unity inherent in the diverse cultures of the continent through music, dance and drama, we plan to take the show on tour around Africa and the world.

“We cannot find a stronger tool at this point in time when Africa needs to continue the conversation on Pan Africanism and cultural diplomacy using each production forum to further the conversation and achieve some resolution.”

We intend an hour of interaction after each show to distil Mama Africa’s message into the psyche of participants for the benefit of furthering African socioeconomic integration.

Even though Miriam Makeba was on exile for many years, her voice reverberates through the African continent, renewing hope and once again urging people to believe in the unity of Africa.
This is what we aim to achieve in every country, city and theatre where this musical will be performed.

Africa needs to heal from the wounds inflicted on the nations by many years of oppression and struggle. Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa The Musical will be a conduit through which Africans begin to find respite and rekindle brotherhood and friendship.