As South African legend of song Miriam Makeba wraps up her 14-month world fare-well tour, Gallo records, in tribute, has re-released a number of her studio and live recordings.

These albums include 1974's The Promise and 1975's Country Girl, Sabelani, Eyes On Tomorrow (1991) and Live at the Theatre Des Champs Elysees (1977).

It is difficult to sum up Makeba's career achievements and life highlights in a few sentences, but some of the earlier highlights include: Her first work with The Manhattan Brothers; performing in King Kong alongside future husband Hugh Masekela; her attending the Venice Film Festival in 1960, and subsequent relocation to London and the United States; Makeba's work with Harry Belafonte; and her testimony before the United Nations against the apartheid regime, which resulted in her SA citizenship being revoked.

Later (after a failed marriage to Masekela) Makeba married famous Trinidadian human rights activist Stokley Charmichael and, fearing persecution in the United States, the couple settled in Guinea. She continued performing, mostly in Africa, while becoming close with the Guinean president Sekou Toure and his wife.

Makeba was awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Peace Prize in 1986 and eventually returned home in 1990. In 1992 she appeared in the hit film Sarafina.

Makeba's last major tour was in part to wrap up business and visit old industry friends, venues and acquaintances one last time. "I have to go and say farewell to all the countries that I have been to, if I can. I am 73 now, it is taxing on me," she said when planning the tour.

The re-released albums include a wealth of material. The most significant two albums, for me, are The Promise and Live at Theatre Des Champs Elysees.


The Promise includes a number of songs from the great South African songwriter and fellow exile Caiphus Semenya . Of these, the title track The Promise is outstanding, with a sad, but slick Motown feel. It features superb, powerful vocals from Makeba, a lilting rhythm and slick, soulful guitar work.

Another Semenya number, the anthemic Hauteng, is sure to have you singing along. La Guinee Guine co-written by Makeba and Sekou Kouyate, and Moulouyame by Makeba and Kemo Kouyate, are also highlights.

Live at Theatre Des Champs Elysees begins with a Van Morrison number, I Shall Sing, followed by Dorothy Masuka's Kulala. Highlights include a stomping version of Pata Pata and the delicious Forbidden Games, while The Manhattan Brothers' Amampondo is a fitting finale. Sound quality on this recording could be better, but I wouldn't let that put you off.

The album Eyes on Tomorrow has a more modern sound and includes a number of interesting collaborations with, among others, Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. The most interesting track is the reworking of an old Bob Dylan classic, Thulasizwe (I Shall be Released), featuring Nina Simone.

Sabelani is definitely not Makeba's best work, with competent but rather dull Afropop tunes. Malaisha, written by The Manhattan Brothers is the standout song, while the title track and Masekela's African Convention are two of the better songs on the album.

The eight-song album Country Girl is also a below-par effort, with very average production and a lack of strong material. Most of the songs are written by South African songwriters, including Masekela, Solomon Linda, The Manhattan Brothers and Makeba's daughter Bongi. Bongi Makeba's Witch Doctor and The Manhattan Brothers' The Click Song are perhaps the best of the bunch.

Overall this material is an eclectic and interesting record of Makeba's stellar career and includes some work Makeba fans will not want to miss out on.