There are three things I was born with in this world, and there are three things I will have until the day I die–hope, determination, and song. — Miriam Makeba

African music, though very old, is always being rediscovered in the West. — Miriam Makeba

It was hard to be away from home, but I am glad that I am home now. — Miriam Makeba

Be careful, think about the effect of what you say. Your words should be constructive, bring people together, not pull them apart. — Miriam Makeba

The conqueror writes history, they came, they conquered and they write. You don’t expect the people who came to invade us to tell the truth about us. — Miriam Makeba

I look at an ant and I see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit. — Miriam Makeba

Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them — Miriam Makeba

I see other black women imitate my style, which is no style at all, but just letting our hair be itself. They call it the Afro Look. — Miriam Makeba

For instance, we’re always fighting amongst each other. Who gives us the arms? And then we become indebted to wherever we are buying them from–with what? The very resources we need to keep there. — Miriam Makeba

I have one thing in common with the emerging black nations of Africa: We both have voices, and we are discovering what we can do with them. — Miriam Makeba

Belafonte]’d take me to perform for Martin Luther King’s cause. But when they were marching I did not take part, because I was not a citizen — Miriam Makeba

There are a lot of homes for boys, but very few for girls, that is why I chose to do for girls. — Miriam Makeba

But if you are going to wear blinders then you do not know the world. — Miriam Makeba

If given a choice, I would have certainly selected to be what I am: one of the oppressed instead of one of the oppressors. — Miriam Makeba

In the mind, in the heart, I was always home. I always imagined, really, going back home. — Miriam Makeba

My thoughts are like quick little fish that swim out of My grasp. — Miriam Makeba

Age is wisdom if one has lived ones life properly. — Miriam Makeba

I’m not a politician; I am a singer. Long ago, they said, ‘That one, she sings politics.’ I don’t sing politics; I merely sing the truth. — Miriam Makeba

I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots. Through my music I became this voice and image of Africa and the people without even realising. — Miriam Makeba

And I believe that it becomes a troubled continent because there are those who must always cause confusion so that we do not keep these natural resources. — Miriam Makeba

Age is getting to know all the ways the world turns, so that if you cannot turn the world the way you want, you can at least get out of the way so you won’t get run over. — Miriam Makeba