The tackle: France's Louis Picamoles fights for the ball with Jaque Fourie of South Africa during their first rugby union test match in Toulouse, France. Photo: Reuters
Toulouse, France - The reggae singer the Springboks accused of butchering the anthem before the 20-13 Test match defeat to France said Saturday that he thought he had "sung beautifully".
Ras Dumisani, sporting dreadlocks tucked into a huge red, green and white Rastafarian cap, was adamant that his performance - which made large parts of the Toulouse crowd burst into laughter - had been a good one.
"No one told me they were upset with the singing," the Durban native said. "In fact, someone just came up to me and told me how beautifully I had sung." Continues Below ↓
'They didn't get someone who really knows the thing'
The South African anthem was sung before France's stirring "Marseillaise" and the singer, backed by two drummers of his Afrikhaya Band, made a mess of the four-language homage to the Rainbow Nation.
At the anthem's conclusion, large parts of the crowd were left openly laughing and several Bok players looked over angrily as the singer made his muted departure from the field.
"I must convey that we are annoyed by the fact that the French disrespected our anthem," blasted South Africa coach Peter de Villiers.
"They didn't get someone who really knows the thing and show any respect for it. We expect people to show respect to the anthem of any other country."
But Dumisani was aghast that de Villiers and other Bok players were unhappy with his rendition.
'most people find my music so beautiful'
"Everyone at the stadium told me I sang well, even after the match. The Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika has been my tune since a baby," he said. "How can I not know the words?
"There are four languages: Zulu, Sesontho, Afrikaans, English. It's just four bars, always saying the same thing," said Dumisani, now based in Paris where he currently records his music and from where he is about to embark on a tour.
"I am the biggest reggae man in South Africa and the Springboks are my team.
"Everyone has their own tastes and you can't always account for that but most people find my music so beautiful."
Speaking after the match on Friday, Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield said Dumisani's rendition of the anthem had taken some of the wind out of the Springbok sails just moments before a kick-off.
"It's almost like receiving a jersey - every week's a special moment," Matfield said of lining up to sing the anthem.
"Every time you go out on the field and sing the national anthem, it's very important for us and that's something that fires you up because it really fires you up because you know you're playing for your country.
"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." - Sapa-AFP
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Showing page 1 of 6 comment pages, 52 total comments
11 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
this guy must have been high of our Protea.The late L Dube would have quit bieng Rasta if he would've seen that rendition.
12 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
After hearing the sa anthem sung by ras dumisani I still have heartburn, I am so disgusted at his poor performance
12 Weeks ago Joe wrote :
Some1 might not have done his/her job and shows clearly that SA has problem of coherence. We are working in silos and we must know who we chose to be our international face / brand ambassadors...CAN WE PLEASE GET A TEAM OF EXPERTS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & CO-OPERATION 2 manage our corporate image internationally?
12 Weeks ago Anonymous: Disgusted musician wrote :
How appalling , it is only an inexperienced event mngt company that can arrange such an insult to the National anthem , and not to leave the conductor that conduct a singer that could not even lead the song . PLEASE save the nation this embarresment for 2010.The girl that sang on SA has Talent would have done a better job . What did they pay this man to make such a spectacle of himself or the country .
12 Weeks ago Anonymous pjkay wrote :
WEll WELL WELL> SELF PRAISE IS NO RECOMMENDATION..GET A LIFE AND LIVE IT IN PRIVATE. WE DONT NEED ANY MORE BEE INSULTS THAN WE ALREADY HAVE> IN ANY CASE WE HAVE BLACK SINGERS WHO ARE GREAT..WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THIS MAN FORWARD>>
12 Weeks ago lunga wrote :
Craig dude please this has nothing to do with black & white. . .that statement is just immature.
12 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
Yet another proud bee moment, mwuahahahahahhaa
go africa, comic relief of earth....
12 Weeks ago Hlubi wrote :
ha ha ha.......Ahoyi Rastafari.......! He sang the National Anthem the "Rasta way"....That's what "weed" does to your mind.
I like the fellow, he is a real Zulu....unenkani. He is still adamant that he sang the anthem " beautifully"
12 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
The Anthem was the funniest thing I've seen. I'm still laughing!
12 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
Raz, you got be wet behind your ears. You say that people said you sang the anthem beautifully. They were taking the mickey out of you and you did not even know it.
You say that you are SA's leading reggae man. We've never even heard of you.
Do the country a favour. Stay in France and don't come back to SA
Unstoppable: Victor Matfield forces his way through France's defence during the first test rugby match between France and the Springboks in Toulouse, France. Photo: Reuters
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