Last Thursday was a big day in SA as the country sent their national rugby team, the Springboks, off to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup (SA is the current rugby world champ). There was a big send-off here in Jo'burg with bands, lots of beer, and the team making an appearance, signing autographs and posing for photos. At one point everyone sang the national anthem, which is a beautiful song. The words, on the other hand, are another story. But it is an interesting story, to say the least. It consists of five languages. Following is a brief history of the anthem, the anthem itself and then the English translation. I found this information on www.southafrica.info.
Before South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, the country had two anthems – an official and an unofficial one. The official anthem was Die Stem, in English The Call of South Africa. The unofficial anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, was a symbol of independence and resistance to apartheid, sung by the majority of the population and at all anti-apartheid rallies and gatherings. In the official anthem of the new South Africa, the two anthems merge into one.
Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.
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.
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,
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.
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.
The isiXhosa and isiZulu of the first stanza, the Sesotho of the second stanza and the Afrikaans of the third stanza translate into English as follows:
Lord, bless Africa
May her spirit rise high up
Hear thou our prayers
Lord bless us.
May her spirit rise high up
Hear thou our prayers
Lord bless us.
Lord, bless Africa
Banish wars and strife
Lord, bless our nation
Of South Africa.
Banish wars and strife
Lord, bless our nation
Of South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens
From our deep seas breaking round
Over everlasting mountains
Where the echoing crags resound ...
From our deep seas breaking round
Over everlasting mountains
Where the echoing crags resound ...
You can click on the link below to hear the song and follow along with the lyrics. Be sure to have your speakers on!
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