Sitemap

South Africa’s National Anthem: What Are The Lyrics And Why Are There Two Separate Songs?

Century Of The Belgrade Philharmonic

Enthusiasm, Dedication And Virtuosity

In the year that sees the Belgrade...

Predrag J. Marković, Historian

In History, The Best Told Story Wins

He was aged just 15 when he...

Jelena Petrović Njegoš (It. Elena Del Montenegro, Or Elena Di Savoia) 1873-1952

150th Anniversary Of The Birth Of The Last Italian Queen

Jelena Petrović Njegoš, aka Elena of Montenegro...

Alpine Ski Museum

Slovenia: At The Heart Of The History Of Skiing

This cutting-edge museum details the history of...

The President Of India Draupadi Murmu Visits Serbia

The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, has arrived on an official visit to Serbia, where she will stay for...

Slovenia To Take Up Seat Of UNSC Non-permanent Member For 2024-2025

Slovenia, not Belarus, will take up the seat of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2024-2025...

Čadež: The Western Balkans Is The Region Of Potential And Not Problems

Europe should accept, as soon as possible, the fact that the Western Balkans (WB) is not the region of...

World Environment Day 25 June: Solutions To Plastic Pollution

More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only...

Serbia To Celebrate The EU Green Week

Serbia is celebrating the EU Green Week again this year, with a set of events that brings together hundreds...

South Africa’s national anthem is a musical diamond, being the only neo-modal national anthem in the world. But what does that mean, and what are the lyrics?

South Africa’s national anthem combines new English lyrics with extracts from the 19th-century hymn ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’ and the Afrikaans song ‘Die Stem van Suid-Afrika’,

‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (Lord, Bless Africa)’ is the official anthem of the African National Congress, while ‘Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (The Call of South Africa)’ was the country’s national anthem during Apartheid.

When South Africa won the Rugby World Cup back in 1995, the songs were as usual heard alongside each other – and the powers-that-be decided to finally acknowledge both songs as national anthems. Two years later, they merged into one song.

Today, South Africa’s anthem is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world, meaning it is the only one that starts in one key and finishes in another.

What are the lyrics to South Africa’s national anthem?

South Africa’s national anthem features five of the most widely spoken of the country’s eleven official languages – Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.

You can find all the lyrics below, along with an English translation beside each line.

Language: isiXhosa and isiZulu
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (God Bless Africa)
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo, (Raise high Her glory)
Yizwa imithandazo yethu, (Hear our Prayers)
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo
(God bless us, we her children)

Language: Sesotho
Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, (God protect our nation)
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, (End all wars and tribulations)
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, (Protect us, protect our nation)
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika. (Our nation South Africa – South Africa)

Language: Afrikaans
Uit die blou van onse hemel, (Ringing out from our blue heavens)
Uit die diepte van ons see, (From the depth of our seas)
Oor ons ewige gebergtes, (Over our everlasting mountains)
Waar die kranse antwoord gee, (Where the echoing crags resound)

Language: English
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

Source: classicfm.com, Photo: Alamy

Related Articles

Conference In Honor Of Nelson Mandela’s Centenary

An international conference "Viva Mandela" marking the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, a great champion of freedom, human rights, democracy and equality,...

“BRICS Plus” New Phase In The Evolution Of BRICS

More than a decade after its establishment, BRICS, grouping five major developing countries from four continents, is recognized by international experts as an irreplaceable...

South Africa Loses 363 Rhinos in Four Months

A total of 363 rhinos were poached in South Africa in the first four months of this year. That is down from 404 rhinos...

India Has to Play a Leading Role as Chairman at BRICS 2016 Summit

BRICS 2016: Urgent Steps Needed to Strengthen Alternative Financial System

India will be hosting the eighth summit of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in Goa in October this year and...