For Chatsworth’s Kayurin Govender, stepping onto the stage at the Namaste Desi Star competition in Pretoria this past weekend was about more than showcasing his voice — it was about singing for his father, whom he had not seen in three years.
The competition, hosted as part of the Hindu Cultural Festival SA, challenged performers to blend an Indian or “Desi” song with one of South Africa’s official languages. Contestants were encouraged to merge cultures, break language boundaries, and display versatility in a unique musical showdown.
“I didn’t expect much when I entered. We had to combine Bollywood with either African vernacular, Afrikaans, or English. I decided to show that I could do all three, Afrikaans, a South African language, and a little English, along with Hindi,” he explained.
Govender’s choice of Luther Vandross’s Dance with My Father Again was personal and powerful. Performing in multiple languages, he moved the audience, the judges, and even the presenter to tears. The song’s message, paired with the emotional weight of his father being present, made it a standout moment in the competition.
“The judges, presenter and audience were left in tears and my dad was even called up on stage after my performance,” he said.
His multilingual performance earned unanimous praise from the judges, propelling him through two intense elimination rounds in a single day.
Finalists were treated like stars, with organisers covering flights, accommodation, and even outfits for the Pretoria event. For Govender, who spent much of his childhood in Bloemfontein speaking Afrikaans fluently and engaging comfortably in Sesotho, the language element felt natural. “It was a creative challenge, but comfortable for me because I’ve lived in a linguistic mix my whole life,” he said.
Known on Durban stages as both a singer and charismatic master of ceremonies, Govender believes his stage presence comes from being authentic. “I drop the ego and let my personality shine. I’m fiery, fun, and I know how to connect with an audience, from eye contact to body language, I use everything to tell a story through my performance.”
He sees Namaste Desi Star as a platform that celebrates cultural diversity. “This year’s finalists reflected a spectrum of South African backgrounds and languages, with songs performed in Hindi, Tamil, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and English. Music brought us together in a way that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. It’s inspiring people to step out of their shells and showcase their talent.”
While he didn’t walk away with the title, Govender says the moment he received the golden ticket to the finals was unforgettable. “This competition has opened doors to a whole new audience in another province, and that’s already growth,” he said.
Looking ahead, Govender plans to expand his repertoire beyond his well-established Tamil base to include English, Hindi, and South African language music. His advice to aspiring artists is simple yet powerful: “Keep putting yourself out there, stay humble, and keep working on your craft. Even a fraction of your dream coming true is worth the journey.”
