4 Things to Know About Miriam Makeba's 'Pata Pata'

The song was first recorded in 1956 in South Africa. Makeba originally recorded ‘Pata Pata’ over a decade before its international breakout.

The famous version came out in 1967 on Reprise Records. This version became her biggest hit in the United States.

It reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. That made it her only top-40 single in the U.S.

The delay was not unusual for Makeba’s career. She often reworked older material for new audiences after moving abroad.