AN OFF-KEY performance of South Africa’s national anthem which has become a YouTube hit has sparked a diplomatic incident between South Africa and France.
Durban-born reggae singer Ras Dumisani came under heavy criticism after he gave an erratic performance before an international rugby match between the two countries in Paris.
He got some of the words wrong and also did a rap over the anthem – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica.
South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Director General Ayanda Ntsaluba described the incident as an "unfortunate mistake".
Ntsaluba said he hoped that the French government had learned something from the incident.
Outraged South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins has written to the French rugby officials demanding an explanation. But it appears that the officials were not involved in selecting Dumisani.
The artist blamed his poor rendition of the national anthem on technical difficulties and an "old microphone".
"The matter was an unfortunate mistake and I'm sure the French government has learnt something from it," Ntsaluba said during a media briefing on Tuesday.
The department will be in charge of all the protocol-related services during the 2010 FIFA World Cup next year. Ntsaluba has assured FIFA that such mistakes will not occur during the tournament.
The video has received over 30,000 hits on YouTube. Users' comments varied – some finding it “hilarious” and other users saying it was “disappointing”. Some suggested dread-locked Dumisani was under the influence of drugs.
“That sounded like a cat being strangled,” commented Nialler on YouTube.
Rouxie8421 said: “World Wars started because of less! Come-on France, say your sorry!”
“This man should be publicly stoned, and I don’t mean with dagga,” reasoned MrDmgo.
But some South Africans appeared to have been genuinely offended.
Lizard4012 stormed: “I was drunk when this came on, thus I thought that the sound was just bad as the pub. But oh my word, to have a good listen to it now is a joke.
“That dude should be hung, or at least shot in the leg, something must be done to stop that clown.”
Politicians also lined up to take a shot at Dumisani. The Congress of the People called his rendition a "vocal misfire", saying: "It looked as though it came right out of the blooper reel of a reality TV singing show."
The Young Communist League of South Africa said Dumisani was a "howler of note" and should sing "only in his shower".
The Springboks team were also far from impressed. Player Victor Matfield said: "It was a joke out there. The guys couldn't sing along to it and even the crowd were starting to laugh. It was very disappointing."
But Dumisani, a native of Durban now based in France, denies that he hit the wrong notes and got some of the words wrong.
"No one told me they were upset with the singing," he said.
"In fact, someone just came up to me and told me how beautifully I had sung. Everyone at the stadium told me I sang well, even after the match. The Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika has been my tune since I was a baby. How can I not know the words? I am the biggest reggae man in South Africa and the Springboks are my team."
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