Yakshemash! Kuwait in Borat song blunder
Thursday 29 March 2012, 12:51PM
The shadow of Borat continues to haunt Kazakhstan – and provide amusement for the rest of the world – after bungling officials replaced the country’s national anthem with his parody version at a recent medal ceremony in Kuwait.
Surprisingly, the incident wasn’t the work of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
The embarrassing mix-up happened when Kazakhstan shooting-team member Maria Dmitrienko prepared to accept her gold medal.
The video involving the anthem blunder starts with a close up of the country’s national flag before it pans in on a stony faced gold medal champion standing on a winner’s podium with her hand placed proudly on her chest.
Playing in the background is Borat’s version of the country’s national song ‘My Kazakhstan’, which includes the dubious lyrics: “Kazakhstan greatest country in the world/ All other countries are run by little girls/ Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium/ Other countries have inferior potassium.”
It was made famous by Cohen in the 2006 mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, when he sang the spoof anthem to a chorus of boos at a US stadium.
The film came under fire from Kazakh officials who criticised Cohen’s portrayal of the transcontinental country labelling it as unfair.
It was banned by countries across the globe, including Kuwait where the recent
Borat blunder took place. It is unclear as of yet if the error was a practical joke or a genuine mistake.
The latest gaffe involving Kazakhstan comes after their anthem was replaced by Ricky Martin song Livin’ la Vida Loca at a recent skiing event.
