Mama Africa

Play trailer

Mama Africa

2011

1h 31m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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)

Mr. Gaga

87%

85%

Mr. Gaga

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mr. Gaga

I Am Divine

96%

83%

I Am Divine

Watchlist

It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl

64%

57%

It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl

Watchlist

Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me

100%

100%

Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me

Watchlist

Hava Nagila (The Movie)

89%

68%

Hava Nagila (The Movie)

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

12 Strong Is a Little Flimsy

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now