Pretoria - Deceased South African musician Miriam "Mama Africa" Makeba will be honoured at the third annual MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs).
The life and work of the singer and civil rights activist, who died in November 2008, will be celebrated at the MTV Africa Music Awards in Lagos on Saturday.
"Miriam Makeba is a true legend and rightly celebrated throughout the world for her beautiful voice, fighting spirit and pioneering interpretation of African music," said Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of MTV Networks Africa.
Makeba, whose stellar career spanned more than 50 years, will be honoured by MTV for her musical talent and for her role in bringing African music and rhythms into the global spotlight.
Miriam Makeba follows in the footsteps of previous MAMA Legend award winners, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Lucky Dube.
In her illustrious career, Makeba won numerous awards and worked with some of the best performers in the world, including Harry Belafonte and Paul Simon, winning herself comparisons with Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. She performed for John F. Kennedy and brought African political issues into the mainstream consciousness.
