WATCH: First time Khoi-San imbongi graced Parliament at #Sona2019
Praise singer (imbongi), Bradley van Sitter made history last night during the SONA as he was the first Khoi-San that was invited to perform before a sitting President during the opening of Parliament.
Poet, Khoekhoegowab language expert and University of Cape Town academic, Bradley Van Sitters made history last night as the first ever Khoi-San imbongi.
KhoeKhoegowab was the original language spoken by the first inhabitants in the Cape and is the most populous and widespread of the Khoisan language.
The #Imbongi for #SONA2019 is poet Bradley Van Sitters #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/STiZZCK1Q3
— Ronesh Dhawraj (@ronesh) June 20, 2019
There are 2 000 speakers of the KhoeKhoegowab language in the Northern and Western Cape, 150 000 speakers in Namibia and only 200 in Botswana, according to the Western Cape cultural affairs department.
According to westerncapegangwatch.co.za Van Sitters was a rapper from Athlone, Cape Town, in his youth.
Read: The speeches are over, now it’s time to get down to work, Cyril Ramaphosa
During last nights SONA, it was his rhythmic, melodic praise-singing in the endangered Khoekhoegowab language got people clicking and clacking on social media.
A lot happened in my life-time. The backend of apartheid where I smelled teargas as I walked to school, democracy, pagers, cell phones and Bradley van Sitters, the Khoi poet, academic and now praise singer of the… https://t.co/yoIDPe1xOo
— Abe Williams (@Gabbameister) June 20, 2019
Poet and academic, Mr Bradley Van Sitters did the things today. We must always find ways of celebrating our diversity as a Nation! ✊🏼 #SONA2019 pic.twitter.com/M1lnJAdZXs
— Akanyang Monaisa (@AkanyangMonaisa) June 20, 2019
SONA: I heard buy local, kids to read for understanding by 10, I have an unfinished dream of a new city, and Bradley van Sitters praising (The comments from a Namibian Nama/Damara speaker in are enlightening) https://t.co/bXn7WhtuE8
— Katleho Kano Shoro (@Kano_Serurubele) June 21, 2019
Watch: Van Sitter makes history at SONA
An English translation of Bradley Van Sitters praise at the State of the Nation Address:
Language of our ancestors
language of our fore parents
language of my mother
My language
Welcome to ||Hui!Gaeb (Cape Town)
Our leader welcome
Creator bless the words of this leader so it can strengthen us. Let the name of the Creator Tsui||Goatse be lifted high
We honour, we are in praise and we are thankful that the Creator carried us through the day. Please guard over us during the night.
Creator help us to unite for our heritage
Creator bless our coming in and bless our going out. Bless everything that is said and bless everything that is heard. Bless us in our journey to inherit the Kingdom of the Heavens.
