National Anthem Comparison
South Africa vs Zimbabwe
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
97
97 years apart
✓
Same continent
South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
Zimbabwe
Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe
Comparison Analysis
South Africa and Zimbabwe, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. South Africa's "National Anthem of South Africa" was written in 1897, while Zimbabwe's "Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe" dates to 1994.
Both anthems share themes of unity, god / faith and freedom. South Africa additionally explores diversity and peace, while Zimbabwe also touches on flag and revolution.
The emotional tones differ: South Africa's anthem is hopeful, while Zimbabwe's is prayerful.
South Africa's anthem predates Zimbabwe's by 97 years, having been written in 1897 compared to 1994.
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
Zimbabwe
✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🚩 Flag 🔥 Revolution
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| South Africa | Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1897 | 1994 |
| Adopted | 1997 | 1994 |
| Lyricist | Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven / Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (English words) | Solomon Mutswairo |
| Composer | Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined) | Fred Changundega |
| Language | multi | multi |
| 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.
Zimbabwe
Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe
Original
[Shona]
Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe
Yakazvarwa nomoto wechimurenga;
Neropa zhinji ramagamba
Tiidzivirire kumhandu dzose;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa
Namakomo, nehova, zvinoyevedza
Mvura ngainaye, minda ipe mbesa
Vashandi vatuswe, ruzhinji rugutswe;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe
Nyika yamadzitateguru edu tose,
Kubva Zambezi kusvika Limpopo,
Navatungamiri vave nenduramo.
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
[English]
O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe
Born of the fire of the revolution
And of the precious blood of our heroes.
Let's defend it against all foes;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
Behold Zimbabwe so richly adorned
With mountains and rivers, beautiful.
Let rain abound and fields yield the seed
May all be fed and workers rewarded.
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
O God, bless the land of Zimbabwe,
The land of our heritage,
From the Zambezi to the Limpopo.
May our leaders be just and exemplary,
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
[Ndebele]
Phakamisan' if'legi yethu yeZimbabwe
Eyazalwa yimpi yenkululeko;
Legaz' elinengi lamaqhawe ethu
Silivikele ezithen' izonke;
Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
Khangelan' iZimbabwe yon' ihlotshisiwe
Ngezintaba lang' miful' ebukekayo,
Izulu kaline, izilimo zande;
Iz'sebenzi zenam', abantu basuthe;
Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
Nkosi busis' ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe
Ilizwe labokhokho bethu thina sonke;
Kusuk' eZambezi kusiy' eLimpopo
Abakhokheli babe lobuqotho;
Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
Translation
[Shona]
Lift up our flag of Zimbabwe,
Born of the fire of the liberation struggle
And of the abundant blood of heroes;
Let us defend it against all enemies.
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
Behold Zimbabwe, a land adorned
With mountains and rivers, lovely to see;
May rain fall and the fields yield harvests,
May workers be rewarded and the people be fed;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
God, bless the land of Zimbabwe,
The land of the ancestors of us all,
From the Zambezi to the Limpopo,
And may the leaders be righteous;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
[English]
O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe
Born of the fire of the revolution
And of the precious blood of our heroes.
Let's defend it against all foes;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
Behold Zimbabwe so richly adorned
With mountains and rivers, beautiful.
Let rain abound and fields yield the seed
May all be fed and workers rewarded.
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
O God, bless the land of Zimbabwe,
The land of our heritage,
From the Zambezi to the Limpopo.
May our leaders be just and exemplary,
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
[Ndebele]
Lift up our flag of Zimbabwe,
Born of the war of liberation
And of the abundant blood of our heroes;
Let us protect it from all enemies.
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
Behold Zimbabwe, all adorned
With mountains and beautiful rivers;
May the sky send rain and the crops abound,
May the workers be glad and the people be fed;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
Lord, bless our land of Zimbabwe,
The land of the ancestors of us all;
From the Zambezi to the Limpopo,
May the leaders have integrity;
Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
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.
Zimbabwe
- 1. The current anthem is Zimbabwe's second since independence in 1980: the first, 'Ishe Komborera Africa' (God Bless Africa), was a version of the hymn 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' and was used until the present anthem was introduced in March 1994.
- 2. The anthem came out of two national competitions: a words competition in 1987 drew 1,685 entries and was won by Solomon Mutswairo's four-verse poem, which Parliament later condensed into three verses; about 300 entries were then submitted for the music, and Fred Changundega's won.
- 3. Changundega has said the melody came to him on a train to Bulawayo; the two finalist tunes were broadcast on national radio so the public could compare them before his was chosen.
- 4. The anthem is played to pupils at the start of each school day, and the national broadcasters play it every morning at 6:00.
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South Africa
Zimbabwe
