Mama Africa

This much-anticipated documentary about the woman that made South African music famous all around the world, the legendary musician and activist Miriam Makeba, is Mika Kaurismäki’s homage to one of the most significant representatives of African culture. Rich in sensational events, such as her exile to the United States, the film chronicles the life and times of Mama Africa. Under Harry Belafonte’s patronage and her own campaign pushing for the imposition of sanctions against the unacceptable apartheid regime, Makeba became the first African woman who spoke at the United Nations. Using rare archival footage and interviews, “Mama Africa” tightropes between its historical moments and Makeba’s unsurpassed crystal voice, resulting in one of the best documentaries of the year.

Director: Mika Kaurismäki

DoP: Frank Lehmann, Eran Tahor

Screenwriter: Mika Kaurismäki, Don Edkins

Music: Andreas Schilling

Editor: André Bendocchi-Alves, Uwe Dresch, Karen Harley

Featuring: Miriam Makeba, Lionel Rogosin, Harry Belafonte, Nelson Mandela

Country: Germany, South Africa, Finland

Year: 2011

Running Time: 90'

Language: English, French