Mama Africa ( Mika Kaurismäki, 2011): Germany, South Africa, Finland

Reviewed by Asante Rose Lewis. Viewed at AFI Festival

Im not a huge fan of documentarys but Mama Africa is a must see. It was shot with such detail and emotion it was all caught on camera. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions throughout the whole film. The passion in her voice he genuine passion for singing as she smiles and dance while shes on stage. This was definatley one of  my favorite movies of the AFI Festival.

Mika Kaurismäki did a excellent job capturing the life of the Grammy winning  singer/songwriter Miriam Makeba. The camera shows her at he most brilliant points and lows. Her constant stuggle for equality, tying to reach out and make political change through her music. Mika Kaurismaki got all the fine detail about Miriam and turned it into a work of art. It portrayed an African woman with a beautiful voice and a heart of gold through all of her trials and tribulations she went through.

Miriam Makeba was one of the most influential african singers of her time. She was mostly known for her political yet beautiful songs she sang trying to change the world. In he act to make change her passport was revoked and she was exiled from the country she was fighting for a voice in. Only to move to a the U.S to marry a Black Panther activist named Stokley Carmichael.

This movie was a great documentary to see if you like music. It shows a woman’s real passion in her craft and a kind soul. If it was through her music or  her giving back to her community by cooking for the neighborhood. Miriam Makeba was a artist who used her voice for good which is a power now and days never used. I highly recommend this movie to any singer or artist who really appreciates the life of a artist.