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 Anthem outrage grows
    November 16 2009 at 01:20PM Get IOL on your
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Ras Dumisani had to weather further criticism on Monday over his rendition of South Africa's national anthem, with the Congress of the People calling his performance a "vocal misfire".

"It looked as though it came right out of the blooper reel of a reality TV singing show," the party said.

Ras Dumisani singing the national anthem


This follows the Young Communist League of SA's condemnation of the performance ahead of the South Africa vs France game in, Toulouse, France.
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Suggesting the Mtunzini-born singer restrict his performances to the shower

"What concerns us more is that Ras [Dumisani] did not know the lyrics of the anthem, especially the English/Afrikaans version, and sang the entire anthem out of note creating a mockery of a song that is supposed to be the pride of our nation," said the league, suggesting the Mtunzini-born singer restrict his performances to the shower.

They demanded an apology from the French Rugby Federation and said the department of arts and culture and international relations should compile a list of people who could sing the anthem to avoid future embarrassment, especially ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Ras Dumisani performing one of his own songs


They also called on the education department to make sure children learn the anthem and for mandatory singing at morning assemblies

It was reported that Dumisani blamed the sound equipment. He had complained about it during the sound check but nothing was done.

"It was war, it was definitely war. If you can't hear yourself, then it is not possible to sing," he wrote in response to a question posted on Facebook.

Dumisani is also on the receiving end of a Facebook site drumming up support for him not sing again. - Sapa

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Showing page 1 of 9 comment pages, 87 total comments
11 Weeks ago Cece wrote :
I fully agree with Lupercus there are more serious issues we sould worry about as a country. He went off tune....he did not know the lyrics....he cannot sing....blah blah blah....he is like other South Africans (black or white) who do not know other parts of the song. I think we should be offering him support instead of biting his head off.
11 Weeks ago sasha wrote :
Sue K - I agree - thank the Lord you left!

If you arent part of the solution, you are part of the problem...

Please stay out!

We will fix our own problems - Malema and all notwithstanding!
12 Weeks ago Sue K wrote :
Flag hung upside down? Its a hint at what the country is turning into. France and the rest of the world have no respect for SA as look what is happening there and who the leaders are. Enough said. Thank the Lord I left the country 2 years ago.
12 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
Ras you should be ashamed of yourself. You shouldn't call yourself a South African, you are a disgrace to the nation. Penny .
12 Weeks ago sasha wrote :
We've all been duped - it was Borat in disguise!
12 Weeks ago Mmalenyalo wrote :
With everything that has been said and done I guess what I have to say is uBaba Enoch Sontonga is turning in his grave right this moment! I learnt the National Anthem in grade 1 and that was in 1989 prior to Ras Dumisani leaving the country, what happened to you Ras?
12 Weeks ago Thobeka wrote :
Ras can't sing, period!!!!!!!! He's a disgrace, he can't even sing the National Anthem!!! And he calls himself a South African. Oh Please!!!!!
12 Weeks ago Dan wrote :
Lupercus.
The point is that Rugby and the boks are one of the very few thing we can be proud of in this country. What happened was a disgrace. It is getting a bit tired now I agree but we needed to make a stink about it.
12 Weeks ago Lupercus wrote :
never ceases to amaze me as to how people get their priorities all wrong!

We are living in a country where crime, corruption, incompetent governance, overpaid politicians, nepotism, inefficiency, a disintegrating infrastructure, lack of basic services, electricity supply failure, unemployment etc, etc , and here we are going bonkers over someone singing the National Anthem off-key.

Let's get real and concentrate on the important issues. The "National Anthem" issue will be forgotten by next week (unless the media decide to flog it to death) but unemployment, lack of basic services, lack of housing and all the rest will be with us for a long time yet.

We'll probably find the event was organised by a politician anyway.
12 Weeks ago Annette wrote :
Eish, I listened to a reply on a video this morning after I listened to him on 94.7, how lovely to have such confidence that you can sing!! I stand with those people who want to hear J.M's reaction - bet is has something to do with apartheid........ Ras was forced to leave and has not been able to come back and learn the athem,
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