National anthem of South Africa

Not to be confused with Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika or Die Stem van Suid-Afrika.

The national anthem of South Africa was adopted in 1997 and is a hybrid song combining extracts of the 19th century Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (English: "God Bless Africa", lit. '"Lord Bless Africa"') and the Afrikaans song that was used as the South African national anthem during the apartheid era, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Voice of South Africa"), with new English lyrics.^[1]

National Anthem of South Africa

The South African national anthem as it appears specified in the South African Government Gazette
National anthem of South Africa
Also known as	"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (first segment) (English: "Lord Bless Africa") "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (second segment) (English: "The Call of South Africa")
Lyrics	Enoch Sontonga, 1897 Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, 1918 Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, 1995 (1995)
Music	Enoch Sontonga, 1897 Marthinus Lourens de Villiers, 1921 (1921) (arranged by Mzilikazi Khumalo and Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, 1995)
Adopted	1997 (1997)
Preceded by	"Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" and "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version file help

National anthem of South Africa

Zulu	iNgoma-Yesizwe yaseNingizimu Afrika
Xhosa	uMhobe weSizwe waseMzantsi Afrika
Afrikaans	Volkslied van Suid-Afrika
Swazi	Umlandvo we Ngoma yeSive yase Ningizimu Afrika
Sesotho	Pina ya Naha ya Afrika Borwa
Setswana	Pina ya Bosetšhaba ya Afrika Borwa
Xitsonga	Matimu ya Risimu ra Rixaka ra Afrika
Venda	Ḓivhazwakale ya Limbo lwa Lushaka lwa Afrika Tshipembe
Southern Ndebele	Zimu Busisa i-Afrika

The anthem is often referred to by its incipit of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", but this has never been its official title, which is simply "National Anthem of South Africa".

The committee responsible for this new composition included Anna Bender, Elize Botha, Richard Cock, Dolf Havemann (Secretary), Mzilikazi Khumalo (chairman), Masizi Kunene, John Lenake, Fatima Meer, Khabi Mngoma, Wally Serote, Johan de Villiers, and Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph.^[2]

Structure

The lyrics employ the five most widely spoken of South Africa's eleven official languages – Xhosa (first stanza, first two lines), Zulu (first stanza, last two lines), Sesotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza), and English (final stanza). The lyrics are sung in these languages regardless of the native language of the singer. The first half was arranged by Mzilikazi Khumalo^[3] and the latter half of the song was arranged by Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, who also wrote the final verse.^[3][4] The fact that it shifts (modulates) and ends in a different key (from A-flat major to E-flat major) a feature that it shares with the Italian, Spanish, and the Philippine national anthems,^[5] makes it compositionally unusual.

History

Background

From the late 1940s to the early 1990s, South Africa was governed by a system known as apartheid, a widely condemned system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was based on white supremacy and the repression of the black majority for the benefit of the politically and economically dominant Afrikaner minority and other whites. During this period, South Africa's national anthem was "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", also known as "Die Stem", an Afrikaans-language song that chronicled the Voortrekkers and their "Great Trek". "Die Stem" is a poem written by C. J. Langenhoven in 1918 and was set to music by Marthinus Lourens de Villiers in 1921.^[6] "Die Stem" (English: "The voice of South Africa") was the co-national anthem^[7] with "God Save the King"^[a] between 1938 and 1957, when it became the sole national anthem until 1994. "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Voice of South Africa") was composed of eight stanzas: the original four in Afrikaans and four in English - a translation of the Afrikaans with a few modifications. It was seldom sung in its entirety; usually, the first stanza was the most widely known and sung sometimes followed by the last stanza.

When apartheid came to an end in the early 1990s, the future of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" was called into question.^[8][9] It was ultimately retained as the national anthem, though "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", a Xhosa language song that was used by the anti-apartheid movement, was also introduced and adopted as a second national anthem of equal standing.^[10] "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was composed by a Methodist school teacher named Enoch Sontonga in 1897. It was first sung as a church hymn but later became an act of political defiance against the apartheid regime.

The South African government adopted both songs as dual national anthems in 1994, when they were performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration.^[11]

For the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Morné du Plessis suggested that the Springboks learn all the words of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", and "they did so with great feeling", according to their instructor Anne Munnik.^[12]

Inception

The practice of having two national anthems proved to be a cumbersome arrangement as performing both of them took as much as five minutes.^[13] This was rectified when South Africa's dual national anthems were merged in abridged forms in early 1997^[14] to form the current national anthem. The new national anthem was performed at an opening of the South African parliament in February 1997,^[15] and was published in the South African Government Gazette on 10 October 1997.^[14] During the drafting of the new national anthem, it was requested by South African president Nelson Mandela that it be not more than one minute and 48 seconds in length (which was the average length of other countries' anthems being used for reference).^[14] The new English lyrics were adapted from the last four lines of the first stanza of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Call of South Africa"), with the changes made to reflect hope in post-apartheid South African society.

Lines borrowed from the two previous national anthems were modified to be more inclusive, omitting overt reference to specific groups of the country's population groups. Thus, lines from the apartheid-era national anthem's first stanza referencing the Voortrekkers' "Great Trek" were omitted, as "this was the experience of only one section of" South African society.^[4][14] Likewise, the words "Woza Moya", used in "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" were also omitted, as the phrase is a specifically Christian reference, rather than a generically religious one,^[4] and thus not acceptable to South Africans of other religions, particularly Muslim South Africans.^[14] A new verse found in neither song was also added. The English version of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" was less prominent than the Afrikaans version and thus could be changed with little objection or controversy.^[14] As such, the English portion of the new South African national anthem was the one that had its lyrics changed from the previous version.^[14]

Criticism

In recent years, the South African national anthem has come under criticism for its Afrikaans verse as it was originally part of the national anthem of South Africa that was used during the apartheid era,^[16] with some such as the Economic Freedom Fighters calling for the verse to be removed, supposedly because of this connection.^{[17][18][19][20]} Others defend the inclusion of the verse, pointing out that it is included in large part due to the wishes of the first post-apartheid South African president, Nelson Mandela, who intended its inclusion as a reconciliatory measure for the post-apartheid future of South Africa.^[21][11][12]

Lyrics

First verse, first two lines in Xhosa (with IPA transcription^[b] and English translation)
Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo^[22]	[ŋkʼɔ.si si.kʼɛ.lɛl i.a.fri.kʼa] [ma.lu.pʰa.kʼa.n̠ʲi.s(w)‿u.pʰɔ.ndɔ lwa.jɔ]	God bless Africa May her horn rise up high^[22]
First verse, last two lines in Zulu (with IPA transcription^[c] and English translation)
Yizwa imithandazo yethu Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.^[22]	[ji.zwa i.mi.tʰa.nd̤a.zɔ jɛ.tʰu] [ŋkʼɔ.si si.kʼɛ.lɛ.la tʰi.na lu.sa.pʰɔ lwa.jɔ]	Hear our prayers Lord bless us, as your children.^[22]
Second verse in Sotho (with IPA transcription^[d] and English translation)
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.^[22]	[mʊ.ʀɛ.nɑ bʊ.lʊ.kʼɑ sɪ.t͡ʃʰɑ.bɑ sɑ ɦɛ.sʊ] [ʊ fɛ.di.sɛ di.ntʼwɑ lɪ mɑ.t͡sʰwɛ.ɲɛ.ɦɔ] [ʊ sɪ bʊ.lʊ.kʼɛ ʊ sɪ bʊ.lʊ.kʼɛ sɪ.t͡ʃʰɑ.bɑ sɑ ɦɛ.sʊ] [sɪ.t͡ʃʰɑ.bɑ sɑ sɑu̯θ ɑf.ɹɪ.kɑ sɑu̯θ ɑf.ɹɪ.kɑ]	Lord we ask You to protect our nation, Intervene and end all conflicts, Protect us, protect our nation, The nation of South Africa, South Africa.^[22]
Third verse in Afrikaans (with IPA transcription^[e] and English translation)
Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes Waar die kranse antwoord gee.^[22]	[œi̯(t)‿di blœu̯ fan ˈɔn.sə ˈɦɪə.məɫ] [œi̯(t)‿di ˈdip.tə fan ɔns sɪə] [ʊə̯r ɔns ˈɪə.və.χə χə.ˈbɛrχ.təs] [vɑːr di ˈkran.sə ˈant.vuə̯rt χɪə]	From the blue of our heavens From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges Where the cliffs give an echo.^[22]
Fourth verse in English
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand. Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa, our land.^[22]

Translations

Besides English, the anthem has also been fully translated into the other official languages of South Africa.^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]}

See also

•  Music portal
•  South Africa portal

• National anthem of Tanzania
• National anthem of Zambia
• National anthem of the Transvaal
• National anthem of the Orange Free State
• List of national anthems

Notes

1. Subsequently "God Save the Queen" when Elizabeth II acceded to the throne following the death of George VI.
2. See Help:IPA/Nguni and Xhosa language § Phonology.
3. See Help:IPA/Nguni and Zulu language § Orthography.
4. See Help:IPA, Sesotho orthography § Sotho alphabet and Sotho phonology.
5. See Help:IPA/Afrikaans and Afrikaans phonology.

References

1. "South Africa Will Play Two Anthems Hereafter". The New York Times. 3 June 1938. p. 10. from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
2. "The South African National Anthem: A History on Record". Augusta de Mist. 13 April 2015. from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
3. "National Anthem of South Africa" (Music sheet). from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018 – via nationalanthems.info.
4. . South African Music Rights Organisation. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
5. . nationalanthems.me. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
6. . South African Government Information. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
7. . The Presidency. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
8. Carlin, John (19 September 1999). "Master of His Fate". The New York Times on the Web Books. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
9. Keller, Bill (8 May 1994). "Symbols/The New South Africa; The First Emblems of Unity: A Little Something for Everyone". The New York Times. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
10. Keller, Bill (28 April 1994). "The South African Vote: The Voting; Blacks Seizing Their Moment: Liberation Day". The New York Times. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
11. Carlin, John (2008). Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation. New York: Penguin Press. pp. 147, 153. ISBN 978-1-59420-174-5.
12. Carlin, John (2008). Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation. New York: Penguin Press. pp. 173–178. ISBN 978-1-59420-174-5.
13. McNeil, Donald G. Jr. (28 March 1996). "Johannesburg Journal; Will Rugby Embrace, or Crush, a Dainty Flower?". The New York Times. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
14. Allen, Siemon (15 October 2013). "The South African National Anthem: A History on Record". flatint. from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
15. "South African Parliament Opening". C-SPAN. from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
16. Ganesh, Narendh (23 July 2014). "Die Stem Controversy". Post. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018 – via PressReader.com.
17. Quintal, Angela (13 April 2018). . City Press. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
18. Haden, Alexis (27 December 2017). "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Named Best National Anthem in the World". The South African. from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
19. Haden, Alexis (18 April 2017). "EFF Calls for Removal of Die Stem on 120th Anniversary of Enoch Sontonga's Death". The South African. from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
20. de Villiers, James (18 April 2017). . News24. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
21. . Sowetan Live. 27 September 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
22. . South African Consulate General New York City. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
23. "Umlando Wengoma yeSewula Africa i-National Anthem".
24. "Ḓivhazwakale ya luimbo lwa lushaka lwa Afrika tshipembe".
25. "Translation: Pina-Ya-Setjhaba Ya Afrika Borwa (SeSotho)". 30 April 2014.
26. "Translation: Die Nasionale Lied van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)". 30 April 2014.
27. "Umlandvo we Ngoma yeSive yase Ningizimu Afrika".
28. "Matimu ya risimu ra rixaka ra Afrika".
29. "Histori ya Pina ya Bosetšhaba ya Afrika Borwa".
30. "National Anthems & Patriotic Songs - South African National Anthem (Multilingual; since 1997) lyrics + Xhosa translation".
31. "Translation: INgoma-Yesizwe yaseNingizimu Afrika (IsiZulu)". 30 April 2014.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National anthems of South Africa.

• National Anthem Toolkit Wikipedia
• The National Anthem
• National Anthem of South Africa – Streaming audio, lyrics and information ()
• (instrumental only, MP3 file)
• Brief introduction to the anthem and notation
• The South African national anthem in MIDI format
• The South African national anthem in MP3 format