National Anthem Comparison
Eswatini vs South Africa
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
71
71 years apart
✓
Same continent
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Comparison Analysis
Eswatini and South Africa, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Eswatini's "Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi" was written in 1968, while South Africa's "National Anthem of South Africa" dates to 1897.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith and peace. Eswatini additionally explores monarchy and nature, while South Africa also touches on unity, diversity and freedom.
The emotional tones differ: Eswatini's anthem is prayerful, while South Africa's is hopeful.
South Africa's anthem predates Eswatini's by 71 years, having been written in 1897 compared to 1968.
South Africa changed its national anthem in 1997, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Eswatini
✝ God / Faith 👑 Monarchy ☮ Peace 🌿 Nature
South Africa
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🌈 Diversity 🕊 Freedom ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace
Metadata
| Eswatini | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1968 | 1897 |
| Adopted | 1968 | 1997 |
| Lyricist | Andrease Enoke Fanyana Simelane | Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven / Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (English words) |
| Composer | David Kenneth Rycroft | Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined) |
| Language | ss | multi |
| Region | Southern Africa | Southern Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Eswatini
Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati
Original
Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso teMaswati,
Siyatibonga tonkhe tinhlanhla,
Sibonga iNgwenyama yetfu,
Live netintsaba nemifula.
Busisa tiphatsi mandla taka Ngwane
Nguwe wedvwa Somandla wetfu;
Sinike kuhlanipha lokungenabucili
Simise usicinise, Simakadze.
Translation
Oh God, bestower of the blessings of the Swazi,
We are thankful for all our good fortune,
We give thanks for our King,
For our land, its mountains and rivers.
Bless those who hold power in the land of Ngwane;
Thou alone art our Almighty;
Give us wisdom without guile;
Establish and strengthen us, Lord Eternal.
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
Eswatini
- 1. The words were written by Andrease Enoke Fanyana Simelane. The siSwati text gives thanks for the king, named by his traditional title iNgwenyama (the Lion), and asks God to bless all the rulers of the country.
- 2. The music is a compromise between Swazi and Western styles: it keeps the intricate polyphony typical of Swazi song.
- 3. The 2005 constitution, which names the King and iNgwenyama as the hereditary head of state, kept the anthem: it provides that the national anthem is the one lawfully in use when the constitution came into force, unless another is prescribed.
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
Eswatini
South Africa
