No racial split over World Cup song - Bacher
Published
Executive Director for the ICC Cricket World Cup Dr Ali Bacher on Wednesday rejected a claim that the World Cup Music Committee had been split along racial lines over the tournament anthem.
The report quoted musician Chicco Twala on Wednesday, claiming a song he had written for the event had been rejected as "too African" by white members of the music committee.
It further asserts that the row "had divided the committee into two racial camps - one white, which says the music is too African, and the group consisting of blacks, who say the music is suitable for the occasion".
"We really want all the different population groups in the country to feel it is their World Cup. We don't want to marginalise any one of those groups," said Bacher on Wednesday.
"If one looks at the volunteers one will see they are fully representative, something that will also come through strongly at the opening ceremony. We also want music to come through very strongly at the World Cup.
"We have a music committee under the chairmanship of Duma ka-Ndlovu, which is also very representative. They asked composers and producers to please come up with a theme song that would be supported by all.
"The members of the music committee assessed the proposed song as produced by Chicco Twala and they, both white and black, felt it might only receive support by one section of the community.
"They expressed their concern to Chicco, he responded and the theme song is now complete. According to the committee, the revised anthem should receive the support of all population groups" said Bacher.
A press conference will be held in the next few weeks in which the theme song will be unveiled. - Sapa