BOTHO MOLOSANKWE
AS SOUTH Africans sing “Happy birthday” to Nelson Mandela at 8.05am on Monday, one young man will be beaming with pride.
Xolani Mootane, a 23-year-old from Tsakane, Brakpan, is the man behind the song that is expected to get every South African singing on the former statesman’s 93rd birthday.
Mootane is a choirmaster at his alma mater, Buhlebemfundo Secondary School, and the choir he belonged to until matric in 2006 wrote the song, Happy Birthday Tata, Siyabulela, as a gift to Mandela, after being specially requested to do so by the Gauteng Department of Education.
The department’s call came after Mootane, who is also the school’s administrator, took the choir through to the provincial level of the South African School Choral Eisteddfod last month.
“I was nervous about writing for Mandela, but I relaxed as soon as melodies came into my head. I took different songs, put them together and edited the lyrics. I then arranged the vocals as well.
“I’m very happy… I never thought I would ever be asked to do something as big as this,” he said, smiling.
Mootane was not paid for his efforts, but is delighted he was able to give Mandela a present.
The campaign, called “Let’s all Sing for Madiba”, is the initiative of LeadSA, the SABC, Brand South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation to get as many South Africans as possible to sing for Madiba on his birthday, then give 67 minutes of their time to doing good.
All the SABC radio and TV stations were expected to rally behind the campaign by playing the song.
Lyrics are available on the LeadSA website, www.leadsa.co.za