This morning I heard the sad news about the passing of Miriam Makeba, the Grammy Award-winning South African singer, also known as Mama Afrika. Makeba was the legendary voice of the African continent, who became a symbol of the fight against apartheid.
For a moment I stood still, starring at my phones’ screen feeling slightly shocked and overcome by sadness.
Miriam Makeba played a very important role in my life. I met her the first time in 2003, when she was singing on stage, on the sports grounds of Rhodes University, during my first photographic assignment. I was to document the event for the Student Newspapers, the Rhodes University magazine, and local press. It was also my first shoot with my brand new digital SLR – the Nikon D100, which was an unbelievable machine back then.
I was also one of the few who worked with a Digital SLR then, and especially in a small backward town like Grahamstown, this gave me the advantage of having the images on disc, distributed to my clients, and ready for print by the next morning.
It was from then onwards, that many assignments came flooding in, and it was that specific event that gave me the necessary self-confidence to work hard at what first was only a passionate hobby of mine.
I remember clearly, the evening Miriam Makeba sang, that the lighting was very bad, it was dark, and I struggled to take a decent picture. But I snapped and snapped and tried all kinds of functions, programs, and manual overrides to get a good image. And I remember the energy that came from Makeba, it was radiant, it was addictive, it was full of life, soul, and song – her stage presence was unbelievably powerful!
I time stamped these images to be published on my blog on Makeba’s birthday (March 4th), now only to be presented with her unfortunate passing.
What an incredible voice, what an incredible woman. These beautiful photo’s do her memory justice.
I remember it well – what a gift, that which the lens captures, those moments in time. A sad loss for South Africa.
Great tribute to a great South African. Thank you for this, babe!
What a sad passing. This woman made me feel like I was at home – a true African icon.
It is strange how staring through the lens of a camera can make one feel a part of, even if it is a small part, an artists life; that we were there when they were great, and so shared some of their greatness.
Thanks for sharing these great pics, of a great lady.
[...] gregorrohrig.com. Gregor is an absolutely incredible photographer who i have much respect for. His Miriam Makeba photographs are moving and incredibly relevant right now. Here is his [...]
[...] This photo was taken by Gregor Rohrig. To see more of his photos of Makeba and read his tribute to her, click here. [...]
Great photos. Even with bad lighting you pulled out something amazing.
[...] with great sadness that I heard this morning that one of South Africa’s most famous daughters, Miriam Makeba, past away last night after performing her last concert in Italy. News reports state that she [...]
Miriam Makeba shall always remain the insignia of Afrika. She was an exceptional woman who never shied away from voicing her beliefs and fought to raise awareness through her magnificent music. A woman who lived in exile, met with numerous challenges never succumbed to failure or express bitterness, rather manifested courageous emotions…. though she has left our world, never our hearts. She shall always be missed….
Wonderful compilation of her photographs. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Shaheen Sultan Dhanji
Co-chair African Socialst
she was in Italy to help us, but she was also committed in many noble cause.
we’ll remember her as a great personage.
Incredible photos & fantastic tribute to an amazing icon! Love the new blog design, excellent stuff!
Thanks Michelle! Glad you like the new design
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