Pan African Film and Arts Festival 2009 featured South African film directed by Anthony Fabian called “SKIN” starring Sophie Okonedo about genetic abnormality that caused a woman born of white parents in apartheid South Africa, to look like a black person.
Today we say farewell to Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba. She was both a singer and activist originating from South Africa. When Miriam testified against apartheid, her South African citizenship was revoked and she fled to the United States. During that time, she met and married Black Panther member Stokely Carmichael (aka “Kwame Toure”) and also continued her singing career that including moments like performing for the late President Kennedy. Her duets with another legend, Harry Belafonte, produced some of her most popular classics “The Click Song” and “Pata Pata.” Miriam collapsed after performing in Italy and later died from cardiac arrest. Still a singer and activist until her dying moments, the concert was to support author Roberto Saviano who received death threats after publishing a book about the Italian mafia.
