SOUTH AFRICA's NATIONAL ANTHEM
National anthem of South Africa : two anthems into one
Before South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, the country had two anthems - an official and an unofficial one.
The official anthem was Die Stem van Suid Afrika (The Call of South Africa).
The unofficial anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, was a symbol of independence and resistance to apartheid, sung by the majority of the population and at all anti-apartheid rallies and gatherings. In the official anthem of the new South Africa, the two anthems merge into one.
The South African government under Nelson Mandela adopted both songs as national anthems from 1995 until they were merged in 1997 to form the current anthem.
Since 1997, The South African national anthem has been a hybrid song combining :
- new English lyrics
extracts of the hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
- the old South African anthem "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Call of South Africa".
National anthem of South Africa : Lyrics | English translation | |
Xhosa (first stanza, first two lines), | Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika Yizwa imithandazo yethu, | God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high
|
Zulu (first stanza, last two lines), | ||
Sesotho (second stanza), | Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, | God we ask You to protect our nation |
Afrikaans (third stanza) | Uit die blou van onse hemel, | Ringing out from our blue heavens, |
and English (final stanza). | Sounds the call to come together, | Listen to the anthem |
