South Africa
National Anthem of South Africa
1897
1997
Enoch Sontonga / C.J. Langenhoven (combined)
Enoch Sontonga / M.L. de Villiers (combined)
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🌈 Diversity |
Context
The most linguistically complex anthem in the world, sung in five of South Africa's eleven official languages in a single performance: Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English. It was created in 1997 by combining the anti-apartheid hymn 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' with 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika,' the anthem of the apartheid era, symbolizing reconciliation between formerly opposed communities.
Lyrics
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.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • Performed in five different languages in a single rendition: Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English, making it the world's most linguistically diverse anthem
- • Created by merging the liberation hymn 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' with the old apartheid-era anthem 'Die Stem,' a deliberate act of reconciliation championed by Nelson Mandela
- • 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' was also adopted as the anthem of Tanzania and Zambia, and served as a pan-African liberation song across the continent