It is very much the theme of our President, President Thabo Mbeki, whose passion is for Africa to work together, and for Africans to get up and do things for us. We are trying as women to do things for ourselves.
Miriam MakebaRead
For instance, we're always fighting amongst each other. Who gives us the arms? And then we become indebted to wherever we are buying them from - with what? The very resources we need to keep there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the cycle of conflict and dependency that arises from external influences on society.
Miriam Makeba's quote highlights the irony of how communities engage in conflict with each other, often fueled by external parties that provision arms. This cycle creates a dependency where the very resources that should be used for communal sustenance are instead diverted to fuel conflict, trapping societies in a loop of indebtedness and violence.
Themes
ConflictDependencyResourcesWarArms
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about global politics, one might say, 'As Miriam Makeba noted, we often find ourselves indebted to those who profit from our conflicts.'
More from Miriam Makeba
All quotes →Be careful, think about the effect of what you say. Your words should be constructive, bring people together, not pull them apart.
Miriam MakebaRead
I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots. Through my music I became this voice and image of Africa and the people without even realising.
Miriam MakebaRead
In the mind, in the heart, I was always home. I always imagined, really, going back home.
Miriam MakebaRead
I see other black women imitate my style, which is no style at all, but just letting our hair be itself. They call it the Afro Look.
Miriam MakebaRead
Age is getting to know all the ways the world turns, so that if you cannot turn the world the way you want, you can at least get out of the way so you won't get run over.
Miriam MakebaRead
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