South African singer Miriam Makeba died of a heart attack near Naples Sunday night after an anti-racist and anti-Camorra concert in support of Gomorra writer Roberto Saviano.
The legendary anti-apartheid singer, 76, agreed to come to this Campania town, scene of the Camorra murder of six West Africans in September, despite being in poor health.
She had chest pains after performing a half-hour set and was rushed to a local clinic where she died shortly afterwards.
One of Africa's best-known singers voices and a champion of the fight against apartheid, Makeba was known as Mama Africa and the Empress of African Song.
She was the first black South African musician to gain international fame, in the United States in the 1950s.
Castel Volturno is near Casal di Principe, home of the Camorra clan whose death threats have led Saviano to consider leaving Italy.
The Italian government has sent the army to the area to combat a clan it says has ''declared war on the State''.
The September 18 massacre of the six immigrants and an Italian was a key event in sparking the government's response.
