WATCH: National anthem: what is its meaning?
The lyrics are in five of the most widely spoken of South Africa’s 11 official languages, being Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
As South Africans, we should all know the lyrics to our national anthem by heart, or at least try to.
While we attempt to sing the anthem at school, events or any special occasions, do we even know the meaning?
The lyrics are in five of the most widely spoken of South Africa’s 11 official languages, being Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist mission school teacher.
The anthem was popularised at concerts held in Johannesburg by Reverend JL Dube’s Ohlange Zulu Choir.
It became a popular church hymn that was later adopted as an anthem at political meetings. It was sung as an act of defiance during the apartheid years.
The first stanza is generally sung in Xhosa or Zulu followed by the Sesotho version. Apparently, there is no standard version or translation of Nkosi and the words vary from place to place and from occasion to occasion.
The anthem is known to unite the nation and we should all sing at the top of our lungs to support the national rugby team (Springboks) as they participate in the 2021 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The full translation of the South African National anthem (taken from www.gov.za):
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)
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)
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)
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.
The Springboks National rugby union team schedule is as follows:
September 18: South Africa vs Australia at 09:05
September 25: South Africa vs New Zealand at 09:05
October 2: South Africa vs New Zealand at 12:05
The current standings are as follows:
• First: New Zealand
• Second: South Africa
• Third: Argentina
• Fourth: Australia
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