Kumari Ambigay enchants PM Modi with 'Gangai Maiya' performance in SA
South African singer and dancer Kumari Ambigay singing the popular song Ganga Maiya to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Image: Facebook
IN A heartwarming cultural exchange ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, legendary South African singer and dancer Kumari Ambigay captivated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with her rendition of the folk song ‘Ganga Maiya’.
Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in South Africa on his arrival for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The community showcased their rich heritage through a vibrant series of performances, featuring folk dances from 11 Indian states in a programme aptly titled ‘Rhythms of a United India’.
In a post shared on his social media account, he expressed his emotions, stating: "It was a moving experience for me to witness a performance of the South African Girmitiya song ‘Ganga Maiya’ in Johannesburg.
"This song carries with it the hope and unbroken spirit of those who came here many years ago."
He added in another post: "The cultural connect between India and South Africa is truly heartwarming and timeless.
"In Johannesburg, my young friends sang the Ganapati Prarthana, Shanti Mantra and other divine prayers with great devotion. Such moments reaffirm the enduring bonds between our people."
Ambigay said singing to Modi is a moment she will cherish.
"I never thought I would sing to him. Before I began singing I said to Modi that this song was brought to South Africa by our ancestors and made popular for seven generations.
"I told him it represented South Africans of Indian origin and it was dedicated to Mother Ganga," she said.
She said in three minutes they made magic.
Sitting just a foot away from the Prime Minister, she performed 'Ganga Maiya' in both Bhojpuri and Tamil, a fusion that left a remarkable impression on Modi, who appreciated the rhythm of the piece.
Ambigay said it was thanks to musician Tansen Nepaul, she got to be part of the performance.
"Tansen chose the song as he wanted it to be a folk song. That song is now popularly referred to in SA as a chutney song," she said.
Ambigay also took the opportunity to thank Modi for allowing the extension of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card eligibility to the seventh generation of South Africans, a move that further solidifies the connection between the Indian diaspora and their motherland.
Kumari Ambigay and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Image: Facebook