National Anthem Comparison
Tanzania vs South Africa
4
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
64
64 years apart
✓
Same continent
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Comparison Analysis
Tanzania and South Africa, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Tanzania's "God Bless Africa" was written in 1961, while South Africa's "National Anthem of South Africa" dates to 1897.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith, unity, peace and freedom. Tanzania additionally explores love of homeland, while South Africa also touches on diversity.
The emotional tones differ: Tanzania's anthem is prayerful, while South Africa's is hopeful.
South Africa's anthem predates Tanzania's by 64 years, having been written in 1897 compared to 1961.
South Africa changed its national anthem in 1997, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Tanzania
✝ God / Faith 🤝 Unity ☮ Peace 🕊 Freedom ❤ Love of homeland
South Africa
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🌈 Diversity 🕊 Freedom ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith 🤝 Unity ☮ Peace 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Tanzania | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1961 | 1897 |
| Adopted | 1961 | 1997 |
| Lyricist | Collective | Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven / Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (English words) |
| Composer | Enoch Sontonga (melody) | Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined) |
| Language | sw | multi |
| Region | East Africa | Southern Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Tanzania
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Original
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Wabariki viongozi wake
Hekima, umoja na amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.
Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na umoja
Wake kwa waume na watoto
Mungu ibariki
Tanzania na watu wake.
Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.
Translation
God bless Africa,
Bless its leaders.
Wisdom, unity and peace,
These are our shields,
Africa and her people.
Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless us, the children of Africa.
God bless Tanzania,
Grant eternal freedom and unity
To its women, men and children.
God bless
Tanzania and its people.
Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless us, the children of Tanzania.
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
Tanzania
- 1. The whole text is a prayer: it asks God to bless Africa and its leaders, then Tanzania and its people, and never mentions war or enemies. Tanzania's National Examinations Council describes the anthem as a prayer for the nation and for Africa as a whole.
- 2. Tanganyika was the first African country to adopt 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' as its national anthem, in 1961. The hymn is now also part of South Africa's anthem and is used, with different words, by Zambia.
- 3. The anthem outlived the country that adopted it: Tanganyika chose it in 1961, and after the 1964 union with Zanzibar the new Tanzania kept it, with 'Tanzania' now sung where the words once named Tanganyika.
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.
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Tanzania
South Africa
