“Singing is not a hobby, it’s my passion.” These are the words of a father of three who refuses to allow a disability to define him.
Zahier Samsodien, 37, fondly known as Rocket, recently released a hit video which has gone viral across social media, titled Dik of Quarantine, a parody of Andrea Bocelli’s Time To Say Goodbye.
Running at under three minutes, the video was written, directed and produced by Zahier himself in his home.
The lyrics explain how gatvol he is of being stuck in quarantine with no entjies.
Zahier, who is wheelchair-bound, says it’s the first time he’s done a funny video.
“When I wrote it, I just wrote how I feel. It’s relatable to everyone during this time of Covid-19. Funny enough, it did better than all my other videos online,” he jokes.
Zahier says mense can look forward to a part-two, which he is finalising.
The Kensington man started singing in 1996 and his melodious voice caught the attention of a neighbour.
“I always sang in our Salt River home living room and one day a neighbour randomly came and asked me if I’d like to join a singing group.
“I happily agreed and joined the 4U band and had my first performance at a community concert in Salt River,” Zahier says proudly.
Over the next 13 years he also performed with Joie De Vivre, The Boyz, Jag and Dejavu.
But his life changed forever in September 2010, when he tried to avoid two dicers on a wet N1 highway and crashed into a tree.
He was hospitalised for two months and left paralysed.
View Zahier’s videos on his Facebook page, Rocky Sams Music Vids.