National Anthem Comparison
Lesotho vs South Africa
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
28
28 years apart
✓
Same continent
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Comparison Analysis
Lesotho and South Africa, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Lesotho's "Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers" was written in 1869, while South Africa's "National Anthem of South Africa" dates to 1897.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith and peace. Lesotho additionally explores love of homeland and ancestors / heritage, while South Africa also touches on unity, diversity and freedom.
The emotional tones differ: Lesotho's anthem is prayerful, while South Africa's is hopeful.
South Africa changed its national anthem in 1997, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Lesotho
✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland ☮ Peace 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
South Africa
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🌈 Diversity 🕊 Freedom ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace
Metadata
| Lesotho | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1869 | 1897 |
| Adopted | 1967 | 1997 |
| Lyricist | François Coillard | Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven / Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (English words) |
| Composer | Ferdinand-Samuel Laur | Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined) |
| Language | st | multi |
| Region | Southern Africa | Southern Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Lesotho
Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona
Original
Lesotho fatse la bontata rona,
Har'a mafatse le letle ke lona,
Ke moo re hlahileng,
Ke moo re holileng,
Rea le rata.
Molimo ak'u boloke Lesotho,
U felise lintoa le matshwenyeho,
Oho fatse lena,
La bontata rona,
Le be le khotso.
Translation
Lesotho, land of our fathers,
Among all countries it is the most beautiful,
It is here we were born,
It is here we grew up,
We love it.
God, please protect Lesotho,
Keep us free from conflict and tribulation,
Oh, this land,
Land of our fathers,
May it have peace.
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Original
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
Lord bless Africa,
May her glory be lifted high.
Hear our prayers,
Lord bless us, her children.
Lord, protect our nation,
Banish wars and suffering,
Protect it, protect our nation,
The nation of South Africa, South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens,
From our deep seas breaking round,
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.
Interesting facts
Lesotho
- 1. Lesotho is the only country in the world entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation, earning it the nickname 'Kingdom in the Sky'
- 2. The anthem was written by a French Protestant missionary who lived among the Basotho people
- 3. Lesotho is completely enclosed within South Africa, making it one of only three enclave countries in the world
South Africa
- 1. In the official score, published in the Government Gazette on 10 October 1997, the anthem starts in G major and moves to D major on the repeated 'South Afrika' just before the Afrikaans lines, so it ends in a different key from the one it began in.
- 2. The interim arrangement of 1994, full versions of both anthems played one after the other, lasted over five minutes. For the combined anthem, Mandela asked for no more than one minute and 48 seconds, the average length of 27 national anthems the committee consulted, according to composer Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph.
- 3. The closing English lines were newly written for the 1997 anthem, adapted from 'The Call of South Africa', the English version of 'Die Stem'; they are credited to Zaidel-Rudolph, who also arranged the second half of the anthem.
- 4. At the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when South Africa still had two anthems, team manager Morné du Plessis suggested that the Springboks learn all the words of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika', and they did; before the final, both anthems were sung by the Imilonji Kantu Choral Society.
Listen
Lesotho
South Africa
