MIRIAM MAKEBA

It is 1956, and I am twenty-four years old when African Jazz and Varity begins a tour that will last eighteen months. The troupe travels from city to city, playing to white audiences and, once a week when my people are permitted into the theater, to black audiences. This is always on Thursday, when the domestics are given the night off. The Manhattan Brothers and I still find time to record for Gallotone. The company has also decided to create a new singing group called the Skylarks with me as the lead. Three other girls sing with me. I record songs with the Skylarks on the side, and we even have some hits.

- Miriam Makeba, Makeba: My Story