[Pleasant introductions are exchanged.]

[FM] How do you feel we can expose more world music to younger populations?

"I have a problem with the word WORLD music, because all music comes from the WORLD."

[MM] I have a problem with the word "world" music, because all music comes from the WORLD. Why is our music called "world" music? I believe I can sing anything. And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite. I have a problem with that word "world" music. I just think "music" period. And it comes from this world in which all of us live, I don't know any music from Mars (laughs) or from the other planets I've never been to. I know this one.

"What they want to say is that it's third world music … they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite."

[FM] FM is trying to expose music that in not generally heard on our radios. And I was wondering how we can assist in promoting your music?

[MM] Well, I think it can be promoted the same way as other music is promoted, by playing it on the radio so people can hear it. There's no other way.

[FM] Unfortunately, our radio systems here are all "pay for play". It's difficult.

[MM] It's a really unfair world because life is, where I am; all day long we listen to American music. So I don't see why the radios in the U.S. cannot even put aside one hour a day just to play music that is not American. You know, and then you expose your people to other cultures and other people's music. You see, that's why, people need to be exposed to different types of music and that is how you learn to appreciate other people. Through their music, through their art, and so on and so forth. But if you are going to wear blinders then you do not know the world.

"I don't see why the radios in the U.S can not even put aside one hour a day just to play music that is not American."

[FM] Do you have any vocal remedies for an unhealthy voice? Do you take any certain tea or herbs for your voice?

[MM] We have something called here Jamaica ginger. http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/ginger.htm When I have a problem with my throat I put that in warm water and gargle with it, and it helps.

[FM] Are there any musicians you would like to mention that are meaningful to you that do not usually get notoriety or are not so well known?

[MM] All the musicians I work with are very well known. I mean my very, very first musicians when I was in the States, they came here this year in April to play for me when I did the North Sea Jazz Festival here in Cape town, so we had a reunion with the TRIO that I worked with along time ago. William Salter, who is very well known and written songs that became hits by Roberta Flack and Leopoldo Fleming who also played with Nina Simon. And Tony Cedras. Unfortunately, Severieno Diaz de Oliveira couldn't come from Brazil, so he was replaced by Tony Cedras who was in Cape Town but lives in the U.S.

[FM] I was reading in your autobiography you use to listen Ella Fitzgerald and Billy Holiday records…

[MM] I still listen to them. And Dinah Washington I like very much. Carmen McRae I like very much. Different singers. I learned a lot of different things from them. For instance you do not have to listen twice to understand what Dinah Washington is saying. She had perfect diction. So did Carmen McRae and so did Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Mathis. All those people I use listen to and I learned a little bit of something from all of them. Here at home, Dorothy Masuka as well.

(At this time, I began to chat to Ms. Makeba about me being a "working class" singer/songwriter as well as running the Female Musician and how I was exposed to her through my husband's family who have been great admirers of hers for some time. I began to tell her my influences too. We spoke of Ella Fitzgerald & Sarah Vaughan. It seemed the conversation swayed from an interview to us talking as friends. I was glad I mentioned to Ms. Makeba that I am a singer; I think she liked that fact which I tend to not address when conducting interviews. This was one interview where I couldn't resist.)

[FM] I was fortunate enough to see Sarah Vaughan at Radio City…

"… when I first came to America, she (Sarah Vaughan) was playing at the Waldorf Astoria, in a room there. I had just arrived I didn't know anybody…"

[MM] Yes, when I first came to America, she was playing at the Waldorf Astoria, in a room there. I had just arrived I didn't know anybody. So I went, (laughs) and they said, "well you can't come in". I said please tell her I'm from South Africa and I admire her music and I would just like to come and sit in the background. And they told her, and she let me in. She said, "Let her come in". And then she took me to her room because she was staying in the hotel. And then I asked her to sign an autograph for a young singer I had left here, Letta Mbulu. I sent her picture to Letta and she signed one for me too. I was very grateful for that. The one I missed is Billie Holiday because she died the year before I arrived. I was in America in 1959 and she had passed away before that. And Ella I met also in California through a Mother of a friend of mine and she was very gracious. And Carmen McCrae also when she was living in the village downtown she invited me to her house also in L.A when she was staying. I met her Mom there. They were very gracious to me.

[FM] Do you have a favorite track on your latest cd release REFLECTIONS?

[MM] Hmm…which one now, I like 'QUIT IT' and also I like 'XICA DA SILVA' and 'I'M IN LOVE WITH SPRING'.

[FM] I do usually end my interviews with this question. The music industry is always changing and if there were one thing you would change about the music industry what would it be?

[MM] I would try to treat artists a little bit better than they are being treated. And try to have more honesty in accounting for their music. Because, I don't think we have a good deal, you know as artists. You are told so much but sometimes it's true and sometimes it's not true. That's what I would like to change.

(Gracious farewells are exchanged.)