They were two of the most famous South Africans of the twentieth century, both forced into exile, both carrying the sound of home to the world. Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela were also, for a short time, husband and wife. Their marriage lasted only two years, but their bond in music lasted for decades.
Two exiles in New York
Miriam Makeba, the singer known as Mama Africa, left South Africa in 1959 and became an international star, performing with Harry Belafonte and introducing global audiences to songs such as “Pata Pata”. Hugh Masekela, a young trumpeter, also left apartheid South Africa and studied music abroad. They knew each other from Johannesburg’s music scene, and in exile their paths crossed again.
Couple profile · South Africa
Miriam Makeba & Hugh Masekela
Photo: Tom Beetz / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- 1959Exile
- 1964Wedding
- 1966Divorce
- Early 1990sHome
- 2008 and 2018Farewells
Marriage, 1964 to 1966
Makeba and Masekela married in 1964. The marriage was brief, and they divorced in 1966. Both had demanding careers and strong personalities, and life in exile was not simple. Makeba went on to marry the American civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael in 1968.
A bond that lasted
The divorce did not end their connection. Britannica notes that the two maintained a close professional relationship, and Makeba later toured and recorded with Masekela, among many other artists. As apartheid ended, both returned to South Africa and were celebrated as national treasures.
Makeba died in 2008, after collapsing at a concert in Italy. Masekela died in 2018. Each remains a symbol of resistance, exile and the power of South African music.
What their story says about love
Not every marriage lasts, and theirs did not. But the respect, friendship and creative partnership that outlived it show a different kind of success: two people who could stop being spouses without stopping being family. For couples today, it is a reminder that how we treat each other matters long after the vows.
Read more historic African love stories, including Nelson and Winnie Mandela and Julius and Maria Nyerere.
Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela: common questions
When did Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela marry?
Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela married in 1964 and divorced in 1966. Read about Miriam Makeba.
Did they keep working together?
Yes. They remained friends and performed together long after the marriage ended.
Why were they living in exile?
Both had left South Africa during apartheid and built international careers abroad.
