Mama Africa

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Mama Africa

2011

1h 31m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The life and career of Miriam Makeba, South African singer and crusader against apartheid.

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

A portrait of a woman ... whose dynamic range and earth-wide smile made the words and sounds pouring from her like a hand extended, a heart exposed, a story of the world made achingly real.

Feb 8, 2018

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Like many biographical documentaries, it resembles a lengthy highlight reel of crucial events from its subject's life, without much in the way of style or perspective.

Jan 18, 2018

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Serena Donadoni

Village Voice

This queen deserves a monarch-sized portrait that fully showcases her part in the tumultuous social, political, and cultural movements that reshaped the world around her.

Jan 17, 2018

Full Review

Kam Williams

Baret News

A fitting tribute to a rare talent who dedicated her life to the liberation of oppressed people all over the world.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 22, 2018

Full Review

André Hereford

Film Journal International

Mama Africa, an intriguing but incomplete documentary portrait of Miriam Makeba, succeeds as a glowing introduction to her life and music.

Jan 19, 2018

Full Review

Craig D. Lindsey

Nashville Scene

Mama Africa shows how Miriam Makeba was the antithesis of a diva. Right up until her death in 2008, she was a woman who cared too damn much.

Oct 13, 2017

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Audience Member

What a strong voice, what a strong character! This seems to be a week of all kinds of awakenings and encounters with various artists and their music. Keep on clicking!!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The story is most interesting, I recommend.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Mika Kaurismäki

Director

Miriam Makeba

Herself (archive footage)

Harry Belafonte

Himself (archive footage)

Kathleen Cleaver

Herself (as Kathleen Neal Cleaver)

Angélique Kidjo

Self

Stokely Carmichael

Himself (archive footage)

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Synopsis

The life and career of Miriam Makeba, South African singer and crusader against apartheid.

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Producer: Rainer Kölmel
Screenwriter: Don Edkins, Mika Kaurismäki
Production Co: Arte, Starhaus Filmproduktion GmbH, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Millennium Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 5, 2020
Runtime: 1h 31m

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