media releases - Launch of Dr Miriam Makeba Auditorium

The official opening of the newly renovated Dr Miriam Makeba Auditorium on Friday evening, 6 March will also be attended by members of Dr Makeba’s family.

South Africa’s greatest music legend, Grammy award winning Dr Zenzile Miriam Makeba passed away late last year after a performance in Italy, at the age of 76.

Exiled through apartheid from her country of birth, her life was not always easy. Nevertheless, Mama Afrika as she was known, had a number of remarkable firsts:
• the 1st African woman to hit the United States Top 10;
• the 1st South African woman to receive the French Commandeur des Artes et Lettres;
• the 1st African woman to have a day named after her in the USA (Miriam Makeba Day in Los Angeles

She received numerous significant humanitarian awards. In 1999 she received the President Nelson Mandela Honour for her contribution to a democracy through music. Evidence of her humanity was displayed when she opened the Makeba Rehabilitation Centre for Girls in Midrand in 2003 where she also became mother to a group of disowned, abandoned and abused young women.

On 15 November 2002 the University of South Africa honoured this courageous and talented woman in a touching ceremony in Pretoria by awarding her with an honorary doctorate, recognizing the contributions she had made to music, her community and to Africa. In receiving this award she joined the ranks of others who, through courage and self sacrifice contributed to the struggle against apartheid against all odds. The list includes Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Thabo Mbeki, Peter Magubane and Pius Langa to name but a few.

Unisa’s film auditorium has been renovated and upgraded as a multi purpose hall to accommodate concerts, lectures, recordings, workshops and conferences at a cost of R11-m. In terms of the acoustics requirements both the Sunnyside Conference Hall and Dr Miriam Makeba Auditorium are state of the art for music. The acoustic requirements of these halls were handled by one of the top acoustic engineers in South Africa, Dr Ben van Zyl.

The Dr Miriam Makeba Hall now has the latest and most sophisticated sound equipment available in South Africa – a true tribute to the legendary musician it honours.

OPENING OF THE DR MIRIAM MAKEBA CONCERT HALL

DATE: 6 MARCH 2009
TIME: 18:00 for 18:30
VENUE: DR MIRIAM MAKEBA CONCERT HALL, 4th level Theo van Wijk Building, Unisa Main Campus, Pretoria

Mr J Roos
Director, Music Foundation

18:00 – 18:30 Music interlude
The Shoshanguve Youth Symphony Orchestra

18:30 – 18:50 Welcome address and context
Prof N Barney Pityana
Principal and Vice Chancellor, Unisa

18:50 – 19:20 Music interlude
Yvonne Chaka Chaka &
Miriam Makeba Band

19:20 – 19:30 Unveiling of the plaque
Dr NM Phosa,
Chairperson, Unisa Council

19:30 – 19:40 Response by Dr Miriam Makeba’s family

19:40 – 19:45 Vote of thanks
Prof MS Makhanya
Pro Vice Chancellor, Unisa