Maya Angelou dead at 86
World-renowned poet, actress and novelist Maya Angelou has passed away. She was 86 and died at her home in North Carolina according to her publicist Helen Brann.
A professor, singer and dancer, among other things, Angelou’s work spans different professions. She spent her early years studying dance and drama in San Francisco, California. After dropping out at age 14, she became the city’s first African-American female cable car conductor.
Angelou later returned to high school to finish her diploma and gave birth to her son a few weeks after graduation. While the 17-year-old single mother waited tables to support her son, she acquired a passion for music and dance. She toured Europe in the mid-1950s with “Porgy and Bess,” an opera production. In 1957, she recorded her first album, “Calypso Lady.”
In 1958, Angelou become a part of the Harlem Writers Guild in New York and also played a queen in “The Blacks,” an off-Broadway production by French dramatist Jean Genet.
Affectionately referred to as Dr. Angelou, the professor never went to college. She has more than 30 honorary degrees and taught American studies for years at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Angelou started writing after a childhood tragedy that shocked her into silence for nearly 10 years. When she was 7, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. He was later beaten to death by a mob after Angelou testified against him.
She spoke at least six languages, having worked as a newspaper editor in Egypt and Ghana. One of her most famous works to date is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
Rest in peace Maya Angelou. You will be sorely missed.
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Maya Angelou amekufa akiwa na umri wa miaka 86 Mshairi, mwigizaji na mwandishi maarufu duniani Maya Angelou amekufa. Alifariki akiwa na umri wa miaka 86 na alikufa nyumbani kwake huko North Carolina, kulingana na mtangazaji wake Helen Brennan. Profesa, mwimbaji na mcheza dansi, miongoni mwa mambo mengine, kazi ya Angelou inazunguka taaluma tofauti. Alitumia miaka yake ya mapema kujifunza densi na mchezo wa kuigiza huko San Francisco, California. Baada ya kuacha shule akiwa na umri wa miaka 14, akawa mwanamke wa kwanza wa Kiafrika-Mmarekani kuongoza gari la cable. Baadaye Angelou alirudi shule ya sekondari kumaliza diploma yake na kuzaa mwanawe wiki chache baada ya kuhitimu. Mama huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 17 alikuwa akitumikia akiwa mhudumu ili kumsaidia mwanawe, naye alipenda sana muziki na kucheza dansi. Alifanya ziara ya Ulaya katikati ya miaka ya 1950 na <unk>Porgy na Bess,<unk> uzalishaji wa opera. "Mwaka wa 1958 Angelou alijiunga na Harlem Writers Guild huko New York na akaigiza kama malkia katika ""The Blacks"" ya mtunzi wa michezo wa kuigiza wa Ufaransa Jean Genet." Profesa huyo, ambaye kwa upendo aliitwa Dakt. Angelou, hakuwahi kwenda chuo kikuu. Ana zaidi ya digrii 30 za heshima na alifundisha masomo ya Marekani kwa miaka kadhaa katika Chuo Kikuu cha Wake Forest huko Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou alianza kuandika baada ya msiba wa utotoni ambao ulimshtua na kumfanya anyamaze kwa karibu miaka 10. Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka saba, alibakwa na mpenzi wa mama yake. Baadaye alipigwa hadi akafa na umati baada ya Angelou kutoa ushahidi dhidi yake. Alizungumza angalau lugha sita, baada ya kufanya kazi akiwa mhariri wa gazeti huko Misri na Ghana. Moja ya kazi zake maarufu hadi sasa ni <unk>Najua kwa nini ndege aliyefungwa kuimba.<unk> Pumzika kwa amani Maya Angelou. Utakosa sana. Sauti nje ya chini!