Pata Pata

"Pata Pata"
Artwork for German vinyl single
Single by Miriam Makeba
from the album Pata Pata
Released	1967
Format	7" single/12" single
Recorded	1957
Label	Reprise
Writer(s)	Miriam Makeba, Jerry Ragovoy
Alternative release A-side label of US vinyl single

"Pata Pata" is a song by South African singer Miriam Makeba. "Pata Pata" was written by Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy, and first recorded by Makeba in 1957 when she still lived in South Africa, but released in the United States ten years later, in 1967.

The song's title means "touch touch" in the Xhosa language, in which the song was originally written and sung. The song was released in the United States in 1967 for Makeba's studio album of the same name. 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.

It was successful on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at No. 12. The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and it has since been covered by many artists.

The song has also been covered by Angélique Kidjo, DJ Mellow-D, Howard Carpendale and La Lupe.