South African musician Ard Matthews has apologised after bungling the words to Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica on live television on Tuesday night.
Matthews was widely criticised on Twitter after his performance on SuperSport during the announcement of the Springbok squad for the Rugby World Cup.
“Seriously, I am utterly devastated by tonight,” Matthews posted on his Twitter account.
“This was a huge honour for me and I could not be more embarrassed and sorry,” he said.
Strumming a guitar, Matthews faltered at the second line, and then laughed. Matthews then says: “I’m so nervous … this is such a big honour for me”.
Matthews then starts singing the anthem from the second line: “Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,” but faltered through the rest of the isiXhosa verse.
Matthews founded the rock band Just Jinjer, which was formerly known as Just Jinger.
Matthews subsequently performed the anthem live on Jacaranda FM on Wednesday morning, after DJ Darren Scott invited him. — Sapa