Today marks the 81st birthday of Miriam Makeba, a well-known singer and actress in South Africa. Named Zenzile Miriam Makeba, she became popular with her song Pata Pata that was released in 1956 and it got positive response and great appreciation from the audience.
Reports said that the popular Makeba spent her first six months in life behind bars for her mother is in jail for selling illegal beer and at age six her father died.
Makeba started singing at a very young age in her primary school choir. Other than that, she also sung with the South African jazz group Manhattan Brothers and this is her professional break in 1950s. Later, Makeba left the jazz group and form her all-girl group called The Skylarks and started recording. Other than being a singer, Makeba also acted as a social activist in 1963.
To celebrate her 81st birthday today, Google features a doodle with an image performing Miriam Makeba.
