Mzansi fans slam national anthem performance following the Springboks vs Italy match

This past weekend had all the makings of a proper rugby jol - South Africa versus Italy, choppie (meat) sizzling on the braai, and whatever drink keeps you hydrated enough to yell at the TV.

And, of course, as any South African knows, the match doesn’t truly start until we’ve belted out "Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika" like we’re auditioning for a Whitney Houston tribute show. We don’t play when it comes to the anthem.

But shem, this weekend’s rendition didn’t quite land the way Mzansi hoped. Our anthem is unique, with five languages: isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.

However, an Italian opera singer tasked with performing it failed to do it justice. 

Most South Africans only speak one or two fluently, so even local artists can stumble. Add nerves, stadium acoustics, and a live broadcast, and the pressure is real.

The commentary came fast and hot across social media platforms.

Instagram user @secondtime_love didn’t hold back: "Wow, I can’t understand why they got her to sing, shame never mind the Afrikaans, the other parts were probably even more Greek to her 😂😂😂 Did I hear ‘waar die blou bull antwoord gee’?"

Then @robyn_jansen added a sprinkle of empathy: "Poor woman had to learn five languages." Fair point, some of us here in Mzansi barely get through the anthem without mumbling at least one section, so imagine performing it live."

But others weren’t so forgiving. @ristowlexi went straight for the jugular: "It's time we started taking our own singers with us, that was just pathetic 😮."

Even if a foreign-based or non-native performer can technically hit the notes, the subtle pronunciation, the feeling behind every line, the way each language flows, that’s hard to replicate if you haven’t lived it.

For instance, the clicks in isiXhosa or the elongated vowels in Afrikaans can make a huge difference in how authentic it feels.

And @reskahamm wrapped it up with the line many agreed with: "There was most definitely someone in the crowd that sings the SA anthem better."

At the end of the day, whoever stepped up tried, truly. But when it comes to "Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika", Mzansi expects accuracy, emotion and a whole lot of homegrown flavour.

If anything, this weekend proved some songs are best sung by the people who live them.