Yonwaba Qetswana from Paarl has delighted the world with his rendition of Beyoncé’s song ‘Listen.’ The touching video of the 12-year-old, dressed in his school uniform and earnestly singing to the camera, quickly went viral on Facebook, garnering over four million views.
Durane Plaatjies, a local rap artist, originally shared the video on his arts and culture page, DOEP TV.Despite the fact that he hadn’t anticipated such a response, Yonwaba expressed his joy at having touched the lives of so many people.. ‘At first, I was shy about taking the video, but I just brought on the confidence,’ he added.
Yonwaba attributes some of his vocal training to his involvement in the school choir. Yonwaba’s mother, Noluthando , shares her son’s excitement and joy at his newfound fame. She recalls Yonwaba showing an interest in singing from a very young age, which she initially dismissed as just another child singing songs.
As he grew older, however, one of his church friends mentioned Yonwaba’s exceptional singing talent, urging Noluthando to pay attention to him. Yonwaba, who was initially shy about singing in front of his family, would withdraw to another room and serenade them behind closed doors. Noluthando and her husband, Sisa Pama, recognised their nine-year-old son’s extraordinary talent during these private performances., with everyone joining in song whenever they get together.
Durane reportedly met Yonwaba through his colleagues, who work with children in sports and the arts, providing them with platforms. Durane is determined to offer as much assistance to aspiring musicians as he did to himself when launching his rap career. He wanders the streets, recording young musicians and posting their performances on his Facebook page.