National Anthem Comparison
South Africa vs Zambia
4
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
67
67 years apart
✓
Same continent
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Zambia
Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free
Comparison Analysis
South Africa and Zambia, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. South Africa's "National Anthem of South Africa" was written in 1897, while Zambia's "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" dates to 1964.
Both anthems share themes of unity, god / faith, freedom and peace.
The emotional tones differ: South Africa's anthem is hopeful, while Zambia's is prayerful.
South Africa's anthem predates Zambia's by 67 years, having been written in 1897 compared to 1964.
South Africa changed its national anthem in 1997, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
South Africa
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🌈 Diversity 🕊 Freedom ☮ Peace
Zambia
✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom ☮ Peace
Metadata
| South Africa | Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1897 | 1964 |
| Adopted | 1997 | 1964 |
| Lyricist | Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven / Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (English words) | Collective |
| Composer | Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined) | Enoch Sontonga (melody adapted) |
| Language | multi | en |
| Region | Southern Africa | Southern Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
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.
Zambia
Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free
Original
Stand and sing of Zambia, proud and free,
Land of work and joy in unity,
Victors in the struggle for the right,
We've won freedom's fight.
All one, strong and free.
Africa is our own motherland,
Fashion'd with and blessed by God's good hand,
Let us all her people join as one,
Brothers under the sun.
All one, strong and free.
One land and one nation is our cry,
Dignity and peace 'neath Zambia's sky,
Like our noble eagle in its flight,
Zambia-praise to thee.
All one, strong and free.
Praise be to God,
Praise be, praise be, praise be,
Bless our great nation,
Zambia, Zambia, Zambia,
Free men we stand
Under the flag of our land,
Zambia-praise to thee.
All one, strong and free.
Interesting facts
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.
Zambia
- 1. The 1973 words came out of a national competition: no single entry was judged good enough, so six entries were merged, and their authors, G. Ellis, E.S. Musonda, J.M.S. Lichilana, I. Lowe, J. Sajiwandani and R.J. Seal, were awarded prizes.
- 2. Under the National Anthem Act, anyone who acts with intent to insult the anthem or bring it into contempt or ridicule commits an offence punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison, or both.
- 3. The tune is shared with other anthems: 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' is also the melody of Tanzania's anthem and part of South Africa's, and Zimbabwe used it until 1994.
- 4. In 2005 representatives of the Zambian women's movement asked for the anthem's male-gendered wording to be changed; it was left unchanged, on the grounds that when the anthem was adopted the masculine forms were meant to include women as well.
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South Africa
Zambia
