A number of South African celebrities have come out to slam a viral video of a woman singing SA smash hit Jerusalema in blackface…
Bulgarian singer Mihaela Marinova made headlines after she performed the chart-topping hit, made famous by Master KG and vocalist Nomcebo, on singing talent show Kato 2 Kapki Voda.
A clip of her performing the song went viral, as did one of her wearing blackface.
Watch it below…
They did this to Nomcebo, so they mean there was no black person to do this? pic.twitter.com/Z0PYxKkhwf
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) March 19, 2021
But stars like Khaya Mthethwa, Busiswa and Mo Flava were not amused in the slightest at the show nor the contestant.
“This #nomcebo thing is not a joke. It’s disgusting,” tweeted Khaya, who won the title of SA Idols winner back in 2012.
Fellow singer Busiswa clapped back; “So this white woman was actually black-faced as Nomcebo Zikode to perform JERUSALEMA at an awards show?!?! WTF????”
The gqom singer also urged record label Open Mic Productions to “go after them”.
Metro FM DJ Mo Flava was just perplexed. “I can’t to can” he tweeted alongside a very telling emoji.
I can’t to can😫 #jerusalema pic.twitter.com/m88MaQeNC5
— #SuperFlava (@moflavadj) March 19, 2021
Neither Master KG nor Nomcebo have yet to respond to the incident, although Black Twitter have come out in droves to react.
Many tweeps felt that the video was ‘disrespectful’…
Nomcebo is not a comedy costume for white entertainment, black people are not costumes! This show is trash 🚮#Nomcebo pic.twitter.com/xi96hvgxH1
— The Queen of peace 🌈🇿🇦🇩🇪 (@QueenNatasha28) March 19, 2021
They did nomcebo dirty, they must pay her #Nomcebo pic.twitter.com/YFmzTOx1Wl
— No One Else But Me 🗨 (@Ndobe_Bibow) March 19, 2021
Just checked why #nomcebo is trending, I’m gutted pic.twitter.com/MtiERQeUiE
— Koketso (@KoketsoJessica) March 19, 2021
People say "it's a show" Leon Schuster did it why is it offensive now" well it's always been offensive it's just that we didn't see it.Stereotypes embodied in the characters of blackface minstrels play a significant role in cementing and proliferating racism #nomcebo
— ✨Tshegofatso Mphehlo🇿🇦 (@TshegofatsoMph9) March 19, 2021
Others found nothing wrong with it, even bringing up SA comedian and actor Leon Schuster into the debate…
Rest Bafethu
This is just a Talent show or LipSyc Battle equivalent on Steroid. It happens all the time.
| #Nomcebo | Leon Schuster | amabutho | jerusalema | deklerk | pic.twitter.com/LoqcyNScHO
— Bornfree_za 🇿🇦 (@ZaBornfree) March 19, 2021
before we overreact can we please celebrate #Nomcebo , she has made it in life. Visit those people's instagram page they do that to the most famous celebrities. pic.twitter.com/uVgaLGnm9T
— Malande Mulanda (@MalandeMulanda) March 19, 2021
I stan to be rectified or corrected if I'm wrong but I don't see anything wrong in this video… I mean Leon Schuster used to do the same this and y'all were cool about it and today other people are doing the same thing y'all lose y'all cool at the same time pull a race card pic.twitter.com/wCgG5Vh1bv
— Gobusamang (@SEBOLA_GOBUSAMA) March 19, 2021
– All4Women