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.

I have to go and say farewell to all the countries that I have been to, if I can. I am 73 now, it is taxing on me.

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.

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 color of your skin is different to that of the rulers, and if you were punished for even asking for equality? 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 leaders, to empty the prisons of all those who should never have been there.

In New York I heard A Piece of Ground, written by a white South African, Jeremy Taylor. I modified it a little and sang it myself. That song is very special to me because it deals with the land question in southern Africa. We were dispossessed of our land.

I do not sing politics. I merely sing the truth.

I look at an ant and I see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit.