Eisteddfod under fire after rapper prevented from performing over Welsh language policy

Yes, it's a shame. Yes, it's a ridiculous situation. The Eisteddfod is the only large monolingual Welsh language festival in the world. Some people want to introduce the English language. We understand why. We understand the frustration. Coldplay seemed to use a bit of Welsh this week. Maybe they should play the Eisteddfod too? There's a line. Simples.

The eisteddfod have a Welsh lang policy. Everybody knows this., he is not being excluded as he is a Welsh speaker. If he is a decent performer he can translate after all he is a stryd poet . So rather than creating about nothing get creating about something in Welsh with your matez ...see if I can do it .....gelli di . And considering he has performed with Dafydd you would think he would have been inspired to perform yn y Gymraeg efallai?

The rule is the rule. Twas ever thus, and hopefully will always be. Suck it up.

The Eisteddfod is a celebration of the Welsh language. How about not demonising the organisation / creating headlines / an us and them situation and try writing in Cymraeg?

100% agree with the policy. The English language already helps you perform virtually anywhere. Whereas British does not! Yet again, we see the dominant language, and those who speak it act like it’s the victim of a sustained attack against it. Where in fact it’s the reverse.

His music is valid and contributes to the wider welsh music scene, but with that said where should the line be drawn? It has to be drawn somewhere otherwise it'll be turned into just another festival, with a token amount of Welsh used in order to participate in the main events.

Regarding Rapper Sage Todz not being able to perform at the National Eisteddfod. Although I'm sympathetic with his plight, the Eisteddfod although open to all whatever language you speak, is after all a festival that celebrates the Welsh language & culture. I only wish this could have been dealt better by organisers. May I suggest he (Todz) use another avenue to spread his positive message more further afield? Perhaps he could appear at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen where all languages & cultures are celebrated, including English, where he could perform and connect with the youth of the world. At least we in Wales respect all languages & cultures. This cannot be said of England, Palace of Westminster and House of Lords who in 2023 still enforce the Welsh language ban under threat of exclusion to those who dare to use Wales & Britain's first language.

I have mass respect for him but Eisteddfod did the right desicions. It's a Welsh-language festival for a reason.

Henry VIII made English the sole official language, and banned people from public office if they did not speak English. Welsh was specifically excluded by law.

I agree with the decision. But, I wonder if there is a tiny hint of hypocrisy here, as novels have won main prizes in the National Eisteddfod despite including English dialogue. Such was the case with the Daniel Owen prize last year, with one of the adjudicators reluctant to award the prize due to "gormod o ddefnydd o Saesneg."

Disagree, what does the language harm is how it’s pointlessly taught while everything surrounding the children learning it is in English. If people really cared for the language, they’d do their best to limit English influence, Atleast until the language has returned to 50+% speaking it.

Uh huh. Let's demote the status of the language in one of only 2 major events that have it as prime to... save the language. We're quickly becoming a 'dwi'n hoffi coffi', 'Popperttee Ping' (fnah fnah fnah, them silly taffs) of a nation. Languages are usually considered in 1 of 2 ways - the more Anglo-centric utilitarian view (purely as a means of communication) or the cultural/aesthetic view (as something that transcends mere explanatory function). Cymraeg has typically fallen into the latter category but can, of course, be used to communicate pretty much anything. It just isn't as expansive as English. We will see our language morph and develop as it has for thousands of years, as all languages have. But care must be taken when the more utilitarian view is coupled with the fact that we live in an Americanised culture and right next door to the home of the world's lingua franca. Too much in the way of standard dropping, too much tip-toeing around advocating for improvement, too many loan-words and Cymraeg-ifying English words (eg 'eniwei'') and the language devolves into a patois or pidgin, then it's gone (not that there is anything wrong with patois languages or pidgin dialects per se, but the range of expression is greatly limited).

I think its a shame, but I can see the Eisteddfod's point, there's a potential for a slippery slope, where you allow bilingual songs and then eventually you could get songs entirely in English with a token word or two of Cymraeg.

Rapper under fire after refusing to recognise Eisteddfod Welsh language policy - there, fixed it for you.

I went for a teaching job on Anglesey . The bi- lingual school asked me to teach the science lesson through the medium of English of which I was quite happy to do . But when it came to the interview stage with the headmaster and governors and other members of the interview panel they refused to speak to me in English , after I stated I would feel more comfortable in conducting myself through the medium of English . My Welsh ability is about a Level 3 I can read and write as well in Welsh to a Level 3 . The school knew this before hand . So the interviewer spoke in Welsh and I translated it into English in real time and I answered the questions . This is unbelievable ..but true !! I was kept waiting for 4 5 minutes before being called in for interview . Plus that evening the school called me and told me through the medium of Welsh, afer me having asked them to tell me the outcome through the medium of English refused . Anyhow I was told I was unsuccesful . This is story is absolutely true . The interview at this particular school on Anglesey - North Wales happened at just before Christmas . My mother was from Liverpool and an evacuee from the Second World War , she resided on Anglesey till after the war , after returning home to a worn torn Liverpool . My father was Welsh and he had met my mother in school during the war time years in school on the island . My father had kep in touch with my mother . My father whilst carrying out his national service at RAF West Kirby rekindled his relationship with my mother . My father and mother returned to Anglesey during the sixties , my mother would often tell me that it was tough . My fathers first language was Welsh . It's legal racism through and through . I have flown the flag for Wales Globally . I can speak Welsh up to a level 3 , I had to leave Wales for work during the Thatcher years and retuned when work was available . I think the Welsh Assembly should should put a stop to this, Anglesey and some areas in North Wales are notorious . If I was a celebrity star then everyone who put me down would soon embrace me , it's so wrong . I hope to god there is never a war, because we as a United Kingdon would have to communicate with eath other . I'm proud to be Welsh and I'm all for keeping the language, heritage and culture, but this legal racism attitude is not going to help matters . If you think what happened to me in the job interiew at the school on Anglesey was unfair and rude, unjust please give me your support as I'm in the process of confronting the Director of Education Anglesey County . I need to see him to put this matter right..... oh !! may I add that I was born on Anglesey, but still this no excuse to treat anyone like this . Nid oes unrhyw esgus dros fod yn anghwrtais ac anghyfiawn.......There is no excuse for being rude and unjust I support Sage all the way this legal racism has to stop !!

A cult? Celebrating one’s culture with song and poetry! Yeah, sounds really occult like that. Meanwhile we have millions upon millions of people rapped with despair over the passing of a Queen they never met, and a queen who would take your last piece of bread if she could. That’s far more cult like.

I detect more than a hint of exceptionalism on his part.

Now that's what I call a missed opportunity to promote the Welsh language. My African husband teaches Welsh in college in Wales and hes a gifted rapper too. This musician is trying to help non Welsh speakers understand the meaning of his songs by introducing English words which is more widely spoken and interjecting it with mostly Welsh. I a non Welsh speaker understood and appreciated the message of his song AND loved to listen to the Welsh language rapped so beautifully in this song. SAD he won't perform.

Well Sage Todz - thats one way to lose yourself a fan. I knew you were clout chasing when you did a rap in Cymraeg, now I just know you're after Welsh language crowd clout: you just burned all your bridges. Da iawn twp.

Sorry David Davies, but how would you know having never been to an Eisteddfod?

When it was announced that Ceredigion was to host the Eisteddfod in 2020, I was overjoyed and wanted to help as much as I could, however when I arrived at the first community meeting and was told that as the Eisteddfod was a Welsh language only area, all conversations would be through the medium of Welsh to which I said, very politely, "That's not fair, I cannot speak a word of Welsh through being neurodivergent, that policy says "Thank you for living in Wales, we'll take your money but will not recognise you!" and makes me think is that why people outside Wales believe they will not get a warm welcome from Welsh areas. To paraphrase Henry Higgins "I WANT to attend an Eisteddfod, I NEED to attend an Eisteddfod" and this policy makes me feel as if I am not wanted.