Google on Monday honoured legendary South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba on her 81st birthday with a doodle. The singer, also known as Mama Africa, was born in Johannesburg on March 4, 1932.

In the 1960s, Makeba was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music in the US and around the world. She is best known for the song 'Pata Pata', first recorded in 1957.
The Grammy-award winning singer who actively campaigned against South Africa's racist apartheid government, had her citizenship and her right to return to the country revoked after testifying against apartheid before the United Nations in 1963.

After losing her South African citizenship Makeba was granted honorary citizenship in ten countries. She returned to her native country only after the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990.

She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and her former husband Hugh Masekela. In 1962, she performed at President John F Kennedy's birthday party.

Makeba died on November 9, 2008 after performing in a concert in Italy organized to support writer Roberto Savianothe author of Sodom and Gomorrah. .