"Pata Pata" is a song by South African singer Miriam Makeba. The song was written by fellow southern African artist Dorothy Masuka and first released by Makeba in 1957 when she still lived in South Africa. The song was released in the United States in 1967 for her studio album of the same name. It was successful on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at #12.
The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and the song has since been covered by many artists. Originally written and sung in the Xhosa language, the song's title means "touch touch" in English.
In 1988, a duet version with Chayanne was made. It was included in the album Chayanne.
The original version of Pata Pata is included in Pata Pata (released 1972), The Best of the Early Years (Miriam Makeba), a collection of 24 tracks released in 2002 by Wrasse, and the 40 track compilation Her Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song (2006 Manteca). Makeba released a renovated version of the song, entitled "Pata Pata 2000", in her 2000 album Homeland.
Read more about Pata Pata: Cover Versions, Charts