Before the first Democratic South Africa Elections in 1994, South African National Anthem happens to be TWO (an official and an unofficial one). The official anthem was Die Stem, in English 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. Jacob Zuma, Helen Zille, Hashim Amla, Jean de Villiers, and Julius Malema all know the words. However, It pulls together two anthems, five languages – and more than 49-million people. South Africans, take ownership of your song!
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South African National Anthem Lyrics
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.
Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.
Translation
The isiXhosa and isiZulu of the first stanza, the Sesotho of the second stanza and the Afrikaans of the third stanza translate into English as follows:
Lord, bless Africa
May her spirit rise high up
Hear thou our prayers
Lord bless us.
Lord, bless Africa
Banish wars and strife
Lord, bless our nation
Of South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens
From our deep seas breaking round
Over everlasting mountains
Where the echoing crags resound.
The Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika is really not officially used. Nevertheless, you can use the comment box below to contact us if really you want to know more about it.
