Makeba, Miriam (1932-...), is an internationally acclaimed South African singer. She first attracted attention in the 1950's, as lead singer with the Black Manhattan Brothers, a Johannesburg group strongly influenced by American big band sounds. Makeba was born in the black township of Prospect, near Johannesburg. She formed an all-woman group called the Skylarks. In 1959, she won a leading role in the hit South African musical King Kong, which portrayed township life. She lived in political exile in many countries from the 1960's to the 1990's.