Mam D, as she is affectionately known, chats to us about all the things that make her heart tingle.
About falling in love…
Love is natural, you can’t explain it. It’s so deep, hence it can make you do anything – even silly things. You don’t learn how to love – it just happens.
I’m in my 70s, so I don’t fall in love anymore. When I was young I fell in love – true love – three times. With the first guy, we separated after he had to leave the country. With the second guy, we separated when I went into exile. The third guy, my husband, passed on.
On music…
Most of our young musicians are doing it because they want to be like someone – it’s an admiration game. Music chose me – I found myself doing music. Today’s youngsters are lucky to sustain their careers for more than five years, because that desire to be like someone dies. Whereas, when music chooses you, it’s easier to sustain the passion for music because it’s natural.
Being in foreign lands…
To me, foreign lands are overseas countries. Africa will never be foreign to me. I know this continent very well. I’ve met people I refer to as my mothers, daughters, brothers and sisters on this continent of mine. Europe, the Americas and Asia were very foreign to me. I’ve travelled casino online the world right up to Timbuktu. Bantu is Bantu: we connect. But in other continents the spoken language and body language are so different – there is zero connection.
Losing friends…
In the music world, my colleagues and I are as connected as biological brothers and sisters, if not deeper. Miriam Makeba and I were so close; she was more than a sister to me. I could feel her and she could feel me from anywhere in the world. When I miss her and all my other friends, including the great Dolly Rathebe and Kippie Moeketsi, I connect with them via music. I play their music, close my eyes and I’m in that world only we understood.
On fame…
It’s not something you apply or wish for – it comes naturally. People make you famous because of something inside you. Although I’m used to it and sort of like it, it’s not always nice to be famous. Fame is expensive; your life is not yours. You have to be careful at all times about what you do in the public eye, hence you need to be highly disciplined.
About ageing gracefully…
I am very comfortable with my age. I sleep alone in my big bed and sometimes let my grandchildren sleep with me. When I go out I doll myself up and put on beautiful rags. I enjoy dolling myself up.
My music being sung by others…
It makes me feel great. It reminds me of the reason why I got into the industry. I get excited every time I hear someone doing one of my songs.
About change…
This world is not a nice place anymore, it’s a mess. It’s not enjoyable like it used to be. Nowadays we live in locked houses behind locked gates and we can’t walk around freely. Young women no longer prioritise marriage like we did – they just want to have babies. People no longer want to do things the right way anymore.
