Do you know what our national anthem means?

AS SOUTH Africans, we should all know our national anthem by heart, or at least try to.

For those that make the attempt to sing along at events or special occasions be it work or school related, do you even know the meaning of what you’re singing?

Almost everyone knows the English part because when singing in public, it’s one of the few parts sung at the top of people’s lungs because they know what they’re singing.

The lyrics are in five of the most widely spoken of South Africa’s eleven official languages, being Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English.

So, here is the full Wiki translation of our proudly South African national anthem:

Xhosa: Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika – Lord bless Africa
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo – May her glory be lifted high

Zulu: Yizwa imithandazo yethu – Hear our petitions
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo – Lord bless us, your children

Sesotho: Morena boloka setshaba sa heso – Lord we ask you to protect our nation
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho – Intervene and end all conflicts
O se boloke, O se boloke setshaba sa heso – Protect us, protect our nation
Setshaba sa, South Afrika, South Afrika – Protect South Africa

Afrikaans: Uit die blou van onse hemel – Out of the blue of our heavens
Uit die diepte van ons see – Out of the depths of our seas
Oor ons ewige gebergtes – Over everlasting mountains
Waar die kranse antwoord gee – Where the echoing crags resound

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

Now that you know all the lyrics and what they actually mean, get those vocal chords warmed up and let those angelic voices do their thing.

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