A singer tasked with performing the South African national anthem at the Springboks match against Italy’s Azzurri has been compared to the notorious Ras Dumisani.
The woman – an Italian opera singer – performed Nkosi Sikeleli iAfrika at the Allianz Stadium in Italy on Saturday, 15 November.
The Boks beat the home side 32-14.
SPRINGBOK NATIONAL ANTHEM GETS HEAT
For the first time in a long time, a performer has caught heat for “butchering” the South African national anthem.
The singer – an Italian opera singer – was accused of butchering the lyrics and singing out of sync with the music.
Watch the performance below…
Many social media users believed the singer deserved the red card of the evening.
Rugby commentator Jared Wright posted on X: “One of the worst renditions of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika since Ras Dumisani”.
Another, @GavinMabie agreed: “Ras Dumisani has been dethroned as the worst ever anthem singer”.
A third, @DeanKietzmann posted: “What an insult!”
WHO IS RAS DUMISANI?
In 2009, singer Ras Dumisani was dragged by South Africans for his dismal performance of the national anthem ahead of the Springboks vs France test match.
Not only did he sing off-key, but he also forgot some of the lyrics!
Dumisani, however, was unfazed by his performance, which was also chastised by Springbok players like Victor Matfield.
He told the Guardian: “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?”
He later admitted his anthem performance was “sabotaged” by organisers.
