Three guys split the anthem. Then came the Afrikaans verse
A split screen TikTok of three guys sharing out Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika has about 278,000 views. Watch what happens at the Afrikaans verse and see what Mzansi is saying.
Three guys, one split screen and Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika shared out between them. In the TikTok @costa_nugget posted on 22 October, the singer labelled "Zullu" carries the opening lines with ease. Then the Afrikaans verse arrives. The clip has about 278,000 views and 30,000 likes.
Since 1997 the national anthem has combined Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika with Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, sung in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English, according to the government's national symbols page. That mix is exactly why so many viewers saw themselves in this one.
The "Zullu" label is on the video itself. Several commenters point out that the opening line is isiXhosa, and the official version lists it as isiXhosa and isiZulu.
What the comments are saying
@lilith_1993_:
"First guy did 3 languages." (3608 likes)
@y.a.y.a_012:
"I was only waiting for the Afrikaans part 😂😂😂" (3514 likes)
@lilitha.0316:
"and thats not zulu its xhosa🙄😒🙄" (600 likes)
@sa.deen53:
"i promise i wont laugh at the Afrikaans part bcoz i sound like that trying to sing the zulu part😁" (370 likes)
@phutimashsa:
"Do we really need “Oor ons ewige gebergtes” mara? It makes afrikaans part unnecessarily difficult" (83 likes)
@nompumeleloshezi4:
"I knew someone was gonna choke in Afrikaans😂😂😂" (78 likes)
@thipi_hun:
"my brother you are not the only1 ,I did Afrikaans for 12 years and still can know nothing 😂😂😂" (20 likes)
@charmaine.pelser:
"I have hope for this country🤣🤣🤣" (10 likes)
Video and image: @costa_nugget on TikTok.