Story of Mama Afrika to be told at The Apex next month

Mama Afrika, which is set to go on stage at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, next month, celebrates the life of iconic South African singer and civil rights activist, Miriam Makeba.

Known for her role in championing Black rights and her resistance to apartheid, Miriam Makeba’s rise from the townships of Johannesburg to international stardom is a testament to her resilience, activism and love for music.

Anna Mudeka’s evocative one-woman performance captures the indomitable spirit of the woman affectionately known as “Mama Afrika”.

Describing her inspiration for the show, Anna (pictured above) said: “When I was growing up as a young girl in Zimbabwe, Miriam Makeba was one of the women singers I admired, who made me want to sing and perform.

“When she performed with Paul Simon in Harare in 1987 it had a big impact on me, and I became more aware of her story – that she had been living in forced exile from South Africa and had been outspoken against the apartheid regime. I always had in mind I would like to tell her story.”

Anna draws on her own Zimbabwean roots to pay tribute to this towering figure in African music history with her storytelling and some of Makeba’s best-known songs, including “Mbube”, “Pata Pata” and “Soweto Blues”.

Makeba’s indomitable spirit is highlighted through key events like the Sharpeville massacre, her forced exile, her testimony to the United Nations, her controversial marriage to Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, and her later role as a Pan-African ambassador.

In Mama Afrika, Anna offers a powerful narrative of hope, determination and song.

“It’s a great show for anybody interested in apartheid era politics in South Africa, or Makeba’s music, or just to hear an inspiring story of a woman who stood up to powerful governments until she became known throughout Afrika as a symbol of determination and independence widely revered as ‘Mama Afrika’,” said Anna.

Anna Mudeka’s Mama Afrika is at The Apex on Wednesday, November 12, at 7.30pm.

See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more details and to book tickets.