Rev. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg. Ubasikelele. (Repeat), Lord, bless Africa Hoor ons as ons U om vrede vra It was one of many songs he composed, and he was apparently a keen singer who composed the songs for his pupils. During this period, South Africa's national anthem was "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", also known as "Die Stem", an Afrikaans language song that chronicled the Voortr… In South Africa our land. Ulisikelele. Usisikelele, Thina lusapho lwayo. Chorus His hymn, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (“God Bless Africa”), went on to become Africa’s most famous anthem of black struggle against oppression. Chorus In Xhosa, the words to the song that immortalized Enoch Sontonga are as follows: Everybody has to listen to everyone else and move forward together. And united we shall stand, When apartheid came to an end in the early 1990s, the future of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" was called into question. Although initially intended for his school choir, “ Sikelela iNkosi zetu; Sontonga originally composed the hymn in B-flat major with a four-part harmony supporting a repetitive melody characteristic of "both Western hymn composition and indigenous South African melodies. British a cappella vocal ensemble The King's Singers released a recording of the song, arranged by Neo Muyanga, on their album Finding Harmony. Ulitwal' ilizwe ngomonde, May her spirit rise high up Malupnakanyisw' udumo lwayo; The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. Bless the wives; Yiva imithandazo yethu National Anthem of South Africa Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg. understanding Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika, The hymn has appeared in Virsikirja, the hymnbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, with lyrics by Jaakko Löytty.[14]. Hear thou our prayers Nkosi Sikelela The song spread beyond the borders of South Africa and has been translated and adapted into a number of other languages. It is also used in the national anthems of Tanzania and Zambia . "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Voice of South Africa") was composed of eight stanzas (The original four in Afrikaans and four in English - a translation of the Afrikaans with a few modifications). Zalisa ilizwe nempilo [5][14] Likewise, the words "Woza Moya", used in "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" were also omitted, as the phrase is a specifically Christian reference, rather than a generically religious one,[5] and thus not acceptable to South Africans of other religions, particularly Muslim South Africans. Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (ca. The fact that it shifts (modulates) and ends in a different key (from G major to D major), a feature it shares with the Italian and the Philippine national anthems,[3] makes it compositionally unusual. In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas[5] were added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi. The first verse and chorus of this version are the original words composed by Enoch Sontonga in 1897. Blot out all its wickedness The lyrics employ the five of the most widely spoken of South Africa's eleven official languages – Xhosa (first stanza, first two lines), Zulu (first stanza, last two lines), Sesotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza), and English (final stanza). Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (c. 1873 – 18 April 1905) was a South African composer, who is best known for writing the song "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (English: "God Bless Africa"), which, in abbreviated version, has been sung as the first half of the national anthem of South Africa since 1994. [8][9] It was ultimately retained as the national anthem, though "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", a Xhosa language song that was used by the anti-apartheid movement, was also introduced and adopted as a second national anthem of equal standing. The new national anthem was performed at an opening of the South African parliament in February 1997,[15] and was published in the South African Government Gazette on 10 October 1997. It was seldom sung in its entirety; usually, the first stanza was the most widely known and sung sometimes followed by the last stanza. Hear thou our prayers Hear Thou our prayers and bless us. The interpretation was controversial, and it was viewed by some as a commercial subversion of the anthem; Boom Shaka counter by stating that their version represents liberation and introduces the song to younger listeners. Of education and mutual The song became a pan-African liberation song and versions of it were later adopted as the national anthems of five countries in Africa including Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe after independence. Azisikelele. A proclamation issued by the State President on 20 April, 1994 stipulated that both Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem would be the national anthems of South Africa. Uwusikilele. Bless also the youth It has also been recorded by Paul Simon and Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Boom Shaka, Osibisa, Oliver Mtukudzi (the Shona version that was once the anthem of Zimbabwe) and the Mahotella Queens. Malupakam' upondo lwayo; SKU: MN0119996 Enoch Mankayi Sontonga, a teacher and lay preacher from the Eastern Cape, died in obscurity 106 years ago today, aged just 33. Print and download National Anthem of South Africa sheet music composed by Enoch Sontonga arranged for Piano. Yiva imitandazo yetu Enoch Sontonga – Composer of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica While alive not many people really knew who Enoch Sontonga was, or that his legacy and words would impact so many people, his composition becoming part of the national anthem of South Africa. Protect South Africa, South Africa.[22]. (1873–1905). Fill the land with good health Seën ons Here God, seën Afrika of all the churches of this land; SHARE. As a choirmaster in his school, Enoch Sontonga composed the first two stanzas of democratic South Africa’s anthem in 1897. Some claim the melody is based on the hymn "Aberystwyth" by Joseph Parry,[3] The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. [9], In 1994, after the end of apartheid, the new President of South Africa Nelson Mandela declared that both "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and the previous national anthem, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Call of South Africa") would be national anthems. The second stanza is sung in Sesotho. Seën ons, in Afrika Nkosi Sikelela Nkosi Sikelela [14] During the drafting of the new national anthem, it was requested by South African president Nelson Mandela that it be no more than 1 minute and 48 seconds in length. Awemfundo nemvisiswano Thina lusapho lwayo. Because of its connection to the ANC, the song was banned by the regime during the apartheid era. The South African government adopted both songs as dual national anthems in 1994, when they were performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration. CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, https://web.archive.org/web/20180601205935/http://www.nationalanthems.info/za-97b.htm, "An Anthem To Ignorance – The Case of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, "How many national athems are plagiarised? South African Idols-winner Elvis Blue recorded an Afrikaans translation of the song with Afrikaans singer Coenie de Villiers entitled "Seëngebed" ("Lord's Blessing") on his third studio album Afrikaans. But he left an indelible legacy. The remaining verses were added in 1927 by Samuel E Mqhayi. Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika And bless them. [8] For decades during the apartheid regime it was considered by many to be the unofficial national anthem of South Africa, representing the suffering of the oppressed masses. Seven additional stanzas in Xhoza were later added by the poet, Samuel Mqhayi. Yihla Moya, yihla Moya And its transgressions and sins, The national anthem of South Africa is a shortened, combined version of “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (God Bless Africa) and “The Call of South Africa” (known in Afrikaans as “Die Stem van Suid Afrika”). Hoor ons as ons in gebede vra Uit die diepte van ons see, The discovery of the grave, now a national monument, ended months of patient and ingenious detective work by city officials, archeologists and historians. Lord we ask You to protect our nation, [14] A new verse found in neither song was also added. [7] The song was the official anthem for the African National Congress during the apartheid era and was a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement. Sikelela abafundisi LIKE . In 1994,[1] Nelson Mandela decreed that the verse be embraced as a joint national anthem of South Africa, with a revised version including elements of "Die Stem" (the then co-state anthem inherited from the previous apartheid government) adopted in 1997. Sikelel' amakosikazi; "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was originally composed as a hymn in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. Thina lusapho lwayo. Lines borrowed from the two previous national anthems were modified to be more inclusive, omitting overt reference to specific groups of the country's population groups. Yizwa imithandazo yethu The South African national anthem is often referred to by its incipit of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", but this has never been its official title, which is simply "National anthem of South Africa". [10] "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was composed by a Methodist school teacher named Enoch Sontonga in 1897. Zimkumbule umDali wazo; Italics denotes unrecognized, partially-recognized, or non-sovereign entities. That they may carry the land with patience, Bless agriculture and stock raising; Malupnakanyisw' udumo lwayo; [7] "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was first published in 1927. Zimoyike zezimhlouele, [13] This was rectified when South Africa's dual national anthems were merged in abridged forms in early 1997[14] to form the current national anthem. "Ishe Komborera Africa" was the Zimbabwean version of "God Bless Africa" sung in the Shona and Ndebele languages and was its first national anthem, adopted after the country gained independence in 1980. Instrumental Solo in G Major. British musicologist Nicholas Cook states: "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" has a meaning that emerges from the act of performing it. Nkosi Sikelela Nkosi sikelela, MP3 • • • Annotate this sheet music. Banish all famine and diseases; Thus, lines from the apartheid-era national anthem's first stanza referencing the Voortrekkers' "Great Trek" were omitted, as "this was the experience of only one section of" South African society. Bless our chiefs; ", "Encyclopedia of African History and Culture. Bless our efforts of union and self-uplift, In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas were added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi. It is still the national anthem of Tanzania and Zambia and has also been sung in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa for many … Music by Enoch Sontonga and M.L. Sikelela kwa nomlisela [14], In recent years, the South African national anthem has come under criticism for its Afrikaans verse as it was originally part of the national anthem of South Africa that was used during the apartheid era,[16] with some such as the Economic Freedom Fighters calling for the verse to be removed because of this connection. '"Lord Bless Africa"') and the Afrikaans song "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Call of South Africa"), which was formerly used as the South African national anthem from the late 1930s[1] to the mid-1990s. though others have called the connection far fetched. And bless us. And bless them. During this period, the custom was to play "Die Stem" together with "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" during occasions that required the playing of a national anthem.[10][11][12]. It is the only national anthem in the world that does not finish in the home key. The song spread beyond the borders of South Africa and has been translated and adapted into a number of other languages. Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Lord bless Africa In this sense, singing it is a political act.[15]. Daal neer, o Gees, Heilige Gees It was one of many songs he composed, and he was apparently a keen singer who composed the songs for his pupils. Morena boloka setshaba sa heso, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, "[6] The hymn was taken up by the choir of Ohlange High School, whose co-founder served as the first president of the South African Native National Congress. "Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika" Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist mission school teacher. Yihla moya oyingcwele lei ons, o Heilige Gees Descend, O Spirit Zimbabwe and Namibia have since adopted new compositions for their national anthems. Hear our prayers Kinders van Afrika Uwusikilele. [14] The new English lyrics were adapted from the last four lines of the first stanza of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Call of South Africa"), with the changes made to reflect hope in post-apartheid South African society. It was replaced in 1994 by "Ngaikomborerwe Nyika yeZimbabwe" (English: "Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"), but still remains very popular in the country. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo It was sung to close the Congress meeting in 1912, and by 1925 it had become the official closing anthem of the organisation, now known as the African National Congress. Nkosi sikelela, Nkosi sikelela, Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana Yizwa imithandazo yethu, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was used provisionally as the national anthem of Namibia at time of the country's independence in March 1990. Choirmaster and photographer Sontonga was also a schoolteacher; his most famous composition was written for his pupils in 1897, and was first sung in public two years later - in similar fashion to the light-hearted " Neziggito, Nezono zayo (Repeat), Seën ons Here God, seën Afrika A Sotho version was published in 1942 by Moses Mphahlele. Gzota zonk'indlala nezifo; Lord bless us, Lord bless us. 1873 - 18 April 1905) was the composer of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (God Bless Africa), which has been part of the South Africa n national anthem since 1994. Lord bless us, your children.[22]. (Repeat). From the depths of our seas, The national anthem of South Africa was adopted in 1997 and is a hybrid song combining new English lyrics with extracts of the 19th century hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (English: "God Bless Africa", lit. Outside of Africa, the hymn is perhaps best known as the long-time (since 1925) anthem of the African National Congress (ANC), as a result of the global anti-Apartheid Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, when it was regularly sung at meetings and other events. Like all choral performance, from singing a hymn to chanting at a football match, it involves communal participation and interaction. Translated from the Xhosa, the title means "God Bless Africa". Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (ca. ", "flatint: The South African National Anthem: a history on record", "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News", "The surreal moment when a Harlem choir sings Die Stem for Winnie", "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika named best national anthem in the world", "EFF calls for removal of Die Stem on 120th anniversary of Enoch Sontonga's death", "Die Stem adulterates Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika – EFF", "Official South African government translation", National Anthem of South Africa – Streaming audio, lyrics and information, Brief introduction to the anthem and notation, The South African national anthem in MIDI format, The South African national anthem in MP3 format, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_anthem_of_South_Africa&oldid=994565611, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 11:05. In 1952 the official English version of the national anthem, the Call of South Africa was accepted for official use. Previous sheet music Next sheet music >> National Anthem of South Africa - God Bless Africa (Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika) Enoch Sontonga. Laat haar mag tot in die hemel reik It was also the official African National Congress African National Congress Descend O Spirit It was won by Axali Doeseb, who wrote "Namibia, Land of the Brave" which was officially adopted on the first anniversary of the country's independence, in 1991. Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe; Kom woon in ons, The hymn was the national anthem of Zambia from independence in 1964 until 1973 when the lyrics were replaced by "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free".[13]. In Kenya, Mang'u High School uses a translation, Mungu Ibariki Mang'u High, as its school anthem. With patience, and bless us, Your children. [ 15 ] compositions for their national anthems in,... Xhosa, the song recorded in London, 1923 and Free '' a. 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