The national anthem of South Africa which was adopted in 1997 combines extracts from the Xhosa hymn Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (“God Bless Africa”) with extracts from the former national anthem Die Stem van Suid Africa (“The Voice of South Africa”). It is one of the National Symbols of South Africa.
The first verse is in isiXhosa and isiZulu, the second verse is in Sesotho, the third verse is in Afrikaans while the last and final verse is in English.
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.
South Africa National Anthem English Version
Lord bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high,
Hear our prayers
Lord bless us, your children.
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.
Ringing out from our blue heavens,
From the depths of our seas,
Over everlasting mountains,
Where the echoing crags resound
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom
In South Africa our land.
Fact About the National Anthem of South Africa
- The SA national anthem is one of only 3 neo-modal anthems in existence
- The current anthem was officially adopted in 1997
- It contains the languages of the 5 most populous of SA’s eleven official languages
- The melody of the song was arranged by two people
- The SA national anthem was named Best National Anthem in 2017
Die Stem van Suid Africa
Uit die blou van onse hemel, uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar die kranse antwoord gee.
Deur ons ver-verlate vlaktes met die kreun van ossewa—
Ruis die stem van ons geliefde, van ons land Suid-Afrika.
Ons sal antwoord op jou roepstem, ons sal offer wat jy vra:
Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe—ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika
In die merg van ons gebeente, in ons hart en siel en gees,
In ons roem op ons verlede, in ons hoop of wat sal wees,
In ons wil en werk en wandel, van ons wieg tot aan ons graf—
Deel geen ander land ons liefde, trek geen ander trou ons af.
Vaderland! ons sal die adel van jou naam met ere dra:
Waar en trou as Afrikaners—kinders van Suid-Afrika.
In die songloed van ons somer, in ons winternag se kou,
In die lente van ons liefde, in die lanfer van ons rou,
By die klink van huweliksklokkies, by die kluitklap op die kis—
Streel jou stem ons nooit verniet nie, weet jy waar jou kinders is.
Op jou roep sê ons nooit nee nie, sê ons altyd, altyd ja:
Om te lewe, om te sterwe—ja, ons kom Suid-Afrika.
Op U Almag vas vertrouend het ons vadere gebou:
Skenk ook ons die krag, o Here! om te handhaaf en te hou—
Dat die erwe van ons vad’re vir ons kinders erwe bly:
Knegte van die Allerhoogste, teen die hele wêreld vry.
Soos ons vadere vertrou het, leer ook ons vertrou, o Heer—
Met ons land en met ons nasie sal dit wel wees, God regeer.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika
Nkosi, sikelel’ iAfrika;
Malupakam’upondo lwayo;
Yiva imitandazo yetu
Usisikelele.
Chorus:
Yihla Moya, Yihla Moya,
Yihla Moya Oyingcwele
Sikelela iNkosi zetu;
Zimkumbule umDali wazo;
Zimoyike zezimhlonele,
Azisikelele.
Sikelel’ amadod’ esizwe,
Sikelela kwa nomlisela
Ulitwal’ilizwe ngomonde,
Uwusikelele.
Sikelel’amakosikazi;
Nawo onk’amanenekazi;
Pakamisa wonk’umtinjana
Uwusikelele.
Sikelela abafundisi
Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe;
Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako
Ubasikelele.
Sikelel’ulimo nemfuyo;
Gxota zonk’indlala nezifo;
Zalisa ilizwe ngempilo
Ulisikelele
Sikelel’amalinge etu
Awomanyano nokuzaka,
Awemfundo nemvisiswano
Uwasikelele.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika;
Cima bonk’ ubugwenxa bayo
Nezigqito, nezono zayo
Uyisikelele.
The Call of South Africa
Ringing out from our blue heavens, from our deep seas breaking round;
Over everlasting mountains where the echoing crags resound;
From our plains where creaking wagons cut their trails into the earth—
Calls the spirit of our Country, of the land that gave us birth.
At thy call we shall not falter, firm and steadfast we shall stand,
At thy will to live or perish, O South Africa, dear land.
In our body and our spirit, in our inmost heart held fast;
in the promise of our future and the glory of our past;
In our will, our work, our striving, from the cradle to the grave—
There’s no land that shares our loving, and no bond that can enslave.
Thou hast borne us and we know thee. May our deeds to all proclaim
Our enduring love and service to thy honour and thy name.
In the golden warmth of summer, in the chill of winter’s air,
in the surging life of springtime, in the autumn of despair;
When the wedding bells are chiming or when those we love do depart;
Thou dost know us for thy children and dost take us to thy heart.
Loudly peals the answering chorus; We are thine, and we shall stand,
Be it life or death, to answer to thy call, beloved land.
In thy power, Almighty, trusting, did our fathers build of old;
Strengthen then, O Lord, their children to defend, to love, to hold—
That the heritage they gave us for our children yet may be;
Bondsmen only of the Highest and before the whole world free.
As our fathers trusted humbly, teach us, Lord, to trust Thee still;
Guard our land and guide our people in Thy way to do Thy will.
National anthems of South Africa
Cape Colony “God Save the King”: 1795–1837
God Save the Queen”: 1837–1901
Union of South Africa “God Save the King”: 1901–1952
God Save the Queen”: 1952–1957
South Africa “Die Stem van Suid-Afrika”: 1957–1994
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”: 1994–1997
The Call of South Africa”: 1994–1997
National anthem of South Africa”: 1997–present
South African National Anthem Youtube Download
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhUMsqei7kM
What is the meaning of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika?
Nkosi Sikelel‘ iAfrika is a hymn that was originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa clergyman at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. It means “Lord Bless Africa“.
Who wrote the national anthem of South Africa?
Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist mission school teacher. The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn.
“Die Stem van Suid-Afrika” is a poem written by CJ Langenhoven in May 1918. The music was composed by the Reverend ML de Villiers in 1921.
References:
South African History Online
Wikipedia
Wikisource
News24
