This month marks eight years since the world lost one of its most important voices, “Mama Africa” Miriam Makeba. And although the life and legacy of the late South African singer, activist and icon were explored in a 2011 documentary (Mika Kaurismäki’s Mama Africa), the film community has yet to pay proper tribute to Makeba.

This will soon change.

As Deadline and a number of other outlets have reported today, the Miriam Makeba biopic the world needs is officially in development.

FINALLY.

Currently untitled, the movie is in partnership with the Miriam Makeba Estate, Miriam Makeba Foundation and Mama Africa Cultural & Social Trust, and it’s being produced by de Passe Jones Entertainment's Suzanne de Passe, who penned the script to the 1972 Billie Holiday film Lady Sings The Blues, and her longtime business partner, Madison Jones. Also on board to produce are Broadway producer Willette Klausner, music producer David Franco and Makeba’s former publicist and confidant, the journalist Marc Le Chat.

Not much else has been revealed. We’ll continue to keep you updated as the project continues to develop.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a few of the singer’s greatest hits.