Miriam Makeba Addresses the UN Special Committee on Apartheid | March 1964

Monday, March 9th 1964. Footage of South African performer Miriam Makeba speaking before the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid. Makeba appealed for "quick and real action" against South Africa's racial problems, and she accused the South African Government of "trying to keep us in bondage, with the utmost brutality, against the will of the entire world". She also read a ballad written for the Anti-Apartheid Movement by the British actress Vanessa Redgrave. She was introduced by the Guinean Chairman of the Committee Diallo Telli. Telli: "On behalf of all the members of the committee I should like to welcome Miss Miriam Makeba, and I should like to ask her to make her statement now." Makeba: "I ask you and all the leaders of the world: Would you act differently? Would you keep silent and do nothing if you were in our place? Would you not resist if you were allowed no rights in your own country because the colour of your skin is different to that of the rulers; if you were punished for even asking for equality. Mr. Chairman, there is already too much hate in my country. I am afraid that if the world keeps on and the government is madly proceeding with more brutality and if trying to take the lives of our most beloved leaders and boys in their teens, you cannot stop the hatred from overflowing. I appeal to you, and through you to all the countries of the world to do everything you can to stop the coming tragedy. I appeal to you to save the lives of our leader, to empty the prisons of all those who should never have been there, and help us to win our rights to human dignity." Source: Reuters News Archive. Note: 1. I can confirm the correctness of the date of this clip as March 9th 1964 as this link to the United Nations Multimedia website confirms: https://www.unmultimedia.org/photo/de... Quite a number of websites have used part of the clip and quotes from her 1964 appearance with an earlier one made on July 16th 1963: https://www.unmultimedia.org/photo/de...