The South African National Anthem

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History

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg. It was one of many songs he composed, and he was apparently a keen singer who composed the songs for his pupils. The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas were later added by Samuel Mqhayi, a poet. Most of Sontonga's songs were sad, witnessing the suffering of African people in Johannesburg, but they were popular and after his death in 1905 choirs used to borrow them from his wife. Solomon Plaatje, one of South Africa's greatest writers and a founding member of the ANC, was the first to have the song recorded. This was in London in 1923. A Sesotho version was published in 1942 by Moses Mphahlele. The Rev J L Dube's Ohlange Zulu Choir popularised Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika at concerts in Johannesburg, and it became a popular church hymn that was also adopted as the anthem at political meetings. For decades Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was regarded as the national anthem of South Afrika by the oppressed and it was always sung as an act of defiance against the apartheid regime. A proclamation issued by the State President on 20 April 1994 stipulated that both Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem (the Call of South Africa) would be the national anthems of South Africa. In 1996 a shortened, combined version of the two anthems was released as the new National Anthem.

There are no standard versions or translations of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika so the words vary from place to place and from occasion to occasion. Generally the first stanza is sung in Xhosa or Zulu, followed by the Sesotho version.

Below are the various versions and translations of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Classic Xhosa Version The first verse and chorus of this version are the original words composed by Sontonga in 1897. The remaining verses were added in 1927 by Samuel E Mqhayi. Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika; Malupakam'upondo lwayo; Yiva imitandazo yetu Usisikelele. Chorus Yihla Moya, Yihla Moya, Yihla Moya Oyingcwele Sikelela iNkosi zetu; Zimkumbule umDali wazo; Zimoyike zezimhlouele, Azisikelele. Sikelel' amadol' esizwe, Sikelela kwa nomlisela Ulitwal'ilizwe ngomonde, Uwusikilele. Sikelel'amakosikazi; Nawo onk'amanenekazi; Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana Uwusikilele. Sikelela abafundisi Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe; Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako Ubasikelele. Sikelel'ulimo nemfuyo; Gxota zonk'indlala nezifo; Zalisa ilizwe ngempilo Ulisikelele Sikelel'amalinga etu Awomanyana nokuzaka, Awemfundo nemvisiswano Uwasikelele. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika; Cima bonk' ubugwenxa bayo Nezigqito, nezono zayo Uyisikelele.		Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Current Xhosa Version Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo Yiva imathandazo yethu Nkosi Sikelela Nkosi Sikelela Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo Yiva imathandazo yethu Nkosi Sikelela Thina lusapho lwayo. Chorus Yihla moya, yihla moya Yihla moya oyingcwele Nkosi Sikelela Thina lusapho lwayo. (Repeat)		God Bless Africa Original Lovedale English Translation Lord, bless Africa; May her horn rise high up; Hear Thou our prayers And bless us. Chorus Descend, O Spirit, Descend, O Holy Spirit. Bless our chiefs May they remember their Creator. Fear Him and revere Him, That He may bless them. Bless the public men, Bless also the youth That they may carry the land with patience and that Thou mayst bless them. Bless the wives And also all young women; Lift up all the young girls And bless them. Bless the ministers of all the churches of this land; Endue them with Thy Spirit And bless them. Bless agriculture and stock raising Banish all famine and diseases; Fill the land with good health And bless it. Bless our efforts of union and self-uplift, Of education and mutual understanding And bless them. Lord, bless Africa Blot out all its wickedness And its transgressions and sins, And bless it.
		Seen ons Here God, Seen Afrika Afrikaans Version Seen ons Here God, seen Afrika, Laat sy mag tot in die hemel reik, Hoor ons as ons in gebede vra, Seen ons in Afrika, Kinders van Afrika. Daal neer o Gees, Heilige Gees, Daal neer o Gees, Heilige Gees, Kom woon in ons, Lei ons, O Heilige Gees. Hou U hand o Heer oor Afrika, Lei ons tot by eenheid en begrip, Hoor ons as ons U om vrede vra, Seen ons in Afrika, Kinders van Afrika. Seen ons Here God, seen Afrika, Neem dan nou die boosheid van ons weg, Maak ons van ons sonde ewig vry, Seen ons in Afrika, Kinders van Afrika.
Lord Bless Africa Current English Version Lord, bless Africa May her spirit rise high up Hear thou our prayers Lord bless us. Lord, bless Africa May her spirit rise high up Hear thou our prayers Lord bless us Your family. Chorus Descend, O Spirit Descend, O Holy Spirit Lord bless us Your family. (Repeat)		Morena Boloka Sechaba sa Heso Sesotho Version Morena boloka sechaba sa heso O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, Morena boloka sechaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho. O se boloke, o se boloke, O se boloke, o se boloke. Sechaba sa heso, Sechaba sa heso. O se boloke morena se boloke, O se boloke sechaba, se boloke. Sechaba sa heso, sechaba sa heso. Ma kube njalo! Ma kube njalo! Kude kube ngunaphakade. Kude kube ngunaphakade!		Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika Zulu Version Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika, Malupnakanyisw' udumo lwayo; Yizwa imithandazo yethu Nkosi sikelela, Nkosi sikelela, Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika, Malupnakanyisw' udumo lwayo; Yizwa imithandazo yethu Nkosi sikelela, Nkosi sikelela, Woza Moya (woza, woza), Woza Moya (woza, woza), Woza Moya, Oyingcwele. Usisikelele, Thina lusapho lwayo.