A Cape Town singer and her vocal coach are challenging the English Rugby Football Union’s discussion to have the racially-loaded Swing Low, Sweet Chariot banned, by composing a cover of the song that signifies unity.
The song was originally written by a freed US slave, Wallace Willis.
Bianca Solomons and her coach, Maritza Truter, both from Bellville, says the gospel song is an anthem of hope and it would be a shame to have it banned at UK rugby matches.
Truter says the idea for a cover song came about after their UK manager, David Gummers told them about the controversy.
“David told us about the song being used for a rugby event in England and some people had an issue with it. Bianca and I then got together and thought, why not make a song proving that no matter what colour your skin is, you can still work together.”
Gummers says there is no reason to ban the song because it’s a gospel song.
“Because the song was written by a former slave, the Rugby Football Union is only looking at it in that historic context of it being written by a freed slave, and rightfully so. But the song is a beautiful song about hope,” says Gummers.
According to Bianca, the song for her is about empowering people.
“I’ve been through a lot and seeing how racism affects others, that should stop. My voice is here to help people who have been or is still going through really tough times.”
She says their new song is “brilliant”: “I can’t wait for it to be released.”
The cover is being released in the next ten days on all streaming platforms like Spotify, iTunes and YouTube.