origin: Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika

Subject: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: TIA
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 10:57 PM

Anyone got a lead on notes and/or lyrics for this song? Have it in my head (sort of), but want to get it right.

Any and all help greatly appreciated.

Tim

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:04 PM

About 10 or 12 years ago I was in a small community chorus and this was one of our most popular numbers. I'll check to see if I still have the words and music. What I have is set up for chorus in four parts.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: TIA
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:07 PM

That'd be perfect!

I had intended to work it up for a brass quartet, so you'll be saving me a whole bunch of transcribing.

Thanks very much.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: mack/misophist
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:42 PM

I don't think I could spell it. Go to mp3.com and look for the group Juba. They have a free recording of it there. You can try spelling it.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: mack/misophist
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 12:47 AM

I must apologize. It used to be there.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 02:36 AM

I have a newspaper clipping from the Independent (8th may 1984) which has the trble line of the dots and the lyrics in English. It's in B flat, or maybe the relative minor.

I quote from the article: '"Nkosi Sikelel' i Afrika" is a Christian hymn composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontoga, a teacher at a Methodist missionary school in Klipspruit, Johannesburg...is said to have had an excellent voice and wrote songs for his pupils to perform...none of his songs were published, but he collected them in an exercise book, and musicians and teachers borrowed the texts from his widow...wrote the words for only the first stanza, which are in his native Xhosa...the version sung today emerged from additions made by two other black South African writers...In 1912 the hymn was plucked from obscurity by John Dube, a zulu headmaster from Durban, who founded the African National Congress...One of the co-founders of the ANC, Sol Plaatje, recorded the song to a piano accompaniment on 16th October 1923 through a company called Zenophone...it is also the national anthem of Zimbabwe,Zambia, Tanzania and Namibia, each of which sing translated versions...the reasons why Sontoga's hymn has passed beyond South Africa's borders is that the words make no mention of South Africa - rather they call on God to bless all of Africa and hear the voices of her people...'

Nkosi Sikelel'i Africa

Lord bless Africa
May her horn rise highup;
Hear thou our prayers
And bless us

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.


I knew that clipping would come in useful one day!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: HuwG
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 10:22 PM

Here is a Blue Clicky to the lyrics, trawled from Google.

And another Another blue clicky, also with the lyrics, and some other information (language, translation etc.)

Note that the third and fourth verses, in Afrikaans and English respectively, are hardly ever sung, even at international events. The former Afrikaans national anthem, "Die Stem", is sometimes unofficially sung by South African rugby fans etc.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:33 PM

Our choir in Sydney, the Solidarity Choir, does this song with a 4 part arrangement. In fact, it was through this song that we started as a choir about 16 years ago. If you go to our website, here and click on music and "Count us In", our second album, you will find the song listed and if you click on the musical note, you can hear a sample of us singing it.

Brett, when you come to Oz in November, I'll play you the whole thing.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 10:36 PM

Hey Jenny, if you give me the words I'll sing along. I've always loved that ssong and the tune keeps running through my head even now all these years later.

Oh, and I haven't had time to go rummaging through the boxes of books in search of the words and music but I hope to soon. They are running me ragged at work.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: TIA
Date: 27 Sep 03 - 09:03 AM

Thanks for the links and info. everyone!

Found a place to order the sheet music for a whopping $7.95 US, so don't bother rummaging (unless you might find other neglected gems).

Thanks again,

Tim

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:32 PM

Unfortunately, most of the links given above don't work.

I was hoping to hear the clip of JennyO's choir, but I guess I'm three and a half years too late.

Here's the lyrics as found on : http://www.worship.co.za/sa/nkosi.asp


Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (Lord Bless Africa)
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo (May her glory be lifted high)
Yiva imathandazo yethu (Hear our petitions)
Nkosi Sikelela (Lord bless us)
Thina lusapho lwayo (Us your children)
Yihla Moya, (Come Spirit)
Yihla Moya, yihla Moya,
Yihla Moya,
Yihla Moya, yihla Moya,
Yihla Moya oyingcwele (Come Holy Spirit)
Nkosi sikelele (Lord bless us)
Thina lusapho lwayo. (Us your children)

Morena boloka sechaba sa heso, (Lord we ask You to protect our nation)
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, (Intervene and end all conflicts)
Morena boloka sechaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho.
O se boloke, o se boloke, (Protect us)
O se boloke morena se boloke,
Sechaba sa heso (Protect our nation)
Sechaba sa heso

Ma kube njalo! (Let it be so)
Ma kube njalo!
Kude kube ngunaphakade, (Forever and ever)
Kude kube ngunaphakade!

-snip-

That website also has a sound clip.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:43 PM

Here's another website that provides the following:

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
South Africa's National Anthem

Contents
The National Anthem
History of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
Enoch Sontonga - composer
Classic Xhosa Version
Original English Translation
Current Xhosa Version
Current Sotho Version
Current Zulu Version
Current English Version
Current Afrikaans Version

Download audio of Nkosi Siekele' iAfrika (.wav file, 1,339Kb)

**

Here's an example from that website:

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
[Classic Xhosa Version]

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 zezimhlonele,
Azisikelele.

Sikelel' amadod' esizwe,
Sikelela kwa nomlisela
Ulitwal'ilizwe ngomonde,
Uwusikelele.

Sikelel'amakosikazi;
Nawo onk'amanenekazi;
Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana
Uwusikelele.

Sikelela abafundisi
Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe;
Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako
Ubasikelele.

Sikelel'ulimo nemfuyo;
Gxota zonk'indlala nezifo;
Zalisa ilizwe ngempilo
Ulisikelele

-snip-

"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."

I think that the version I posted earlier is the Zulu version, although there are some differences. Here's the Zulu version that that website gives:

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.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 09:28 PM

Thanks for all the info Azizi. I have found that I can order a SATB choral version from Worldmusic (someone...thank you to whoever...put a link in the other thread). Should be good, 'cause it's listed as the Ladysmith version.

My nieces and nephews in Swaziland sing it beautifully, and I always thought they were using Siswati, but from what you have posted, I think they are singing it in Zulu (they use "woza" for the echo part).

Thanks to all.

Tim

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Trevor
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 08:14 AM

This is in our current set list.Let me know if you want me to send you the dots and words.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: JennyO
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 11:32 AM

Azizi, the choir's website has moved. It's here now - Solidarity Choir. As it happens the choir is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately the link to that particular sound clip seems to be broken at the moment. What a shame - I might mention it to somebody and maybe they can fix it.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 05:49 PM

Hello, Jenny! Thanks for posting that new link.

Congratulations on the choir's 20th anniversary.

I visited the website and clicked on music. I found information about the songs, but no sound clips. ??

Thanks, again!

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: TIA
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 10:39 PM

Trevor:
If you've got dots, I would be most appreciative. Any format is fine. If you can send them to [e-mail] , I will owe YOU a big favor sometime.
Tim

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: TIA
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 11:11 PM

Azizi:

I followed JennyO's link, and the sound clips are there -- they just take a while to load, and you don't see a status bar, so it seems like a broken link. I clicked one, got distracted by an algebra homework question from one of the kids, and all of a sudden, my laptop started singing!

Very nice stuff Jenny. Thanks.

Tim

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,mak, malaysia
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 04:00 AM

Everytime I hear this song it moves me to tears.
1st time I heard it was in the Movie "cry freedom", in the scene when they sang it at Biko's funeral. The movie and the song change my life forever.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:03 AM

Many years ago I went to a college in Plymouth to see a South African poet. At the end of his performance he said he would sing it and he would like everyone to join in, presuming that all the 'politically correct' students of the time would know the words. Not being a student I got some really strange looks when I stood up and sang my little heart out, even more so as I was the only one in the room who did. Mak - I used to show Cry Freedom, without fail, every year, to my A level general studies group as part of the political awareness module and used to preface the showing by telling them that, even having seen it literally scores of times, they would still find me weeping at various parts and I would be there with my box of tissues. They were amazed when I did the translation during the singing at the Funeral scene, even more when I joined in. It used to move them to tears as well and no one should have to apologise for that. Let's all sniff together. :-)

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Bagpuss
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:36 AM

This page has the words and links to the dots for the current SA anthem which combines Die Stem with Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.

http://www.salanguages.com/anthem/index.htm

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 09:52 PM

Having lived in Botswana for some years in the late 1970's, where the song is called 'Kgosi sikelele Afrika'[the soutern baNtu languages are very close in sound, although the spelling may be different from age to age and place to place, depending a lot on he missionary who came to re-invent the 'wheel] I became quite fond of this classic song, and many other lyrics. Language is a very fluid medium, anywhere, but especially so where there was no tradition of written text. Thus one should not be too concerned about a correct spelling, as many versions exist.

For many years I tried to find proper translations, which can also be sung, but as the famous hymn Nkosi sikelel'i Afrika was more or less 'banned' during the many decades of apartheid, sheet music and texts were not widely available in 'die boereland'. So, in the end I made my own translation into English, helped by dictionaries and a friend who was born near Cape Town, and who can speak all of these languages. I then proceeded to make a translation into my native tongue Dutch [a proper Afrikaans version did not exist until the early 1990's, I was told by the S.A Embassy, except for a a 'kombuis' = kitchen version: 'here god o help ons asseblief' did not seem suitable as a national anthem] and now we can enjoy singing it. The essence of the lyrics is what counts, not the exact wording.

'He who watches the birds' or 'moona magolo' my nickname whilst living at the Madiba Secondary school compound, Mahalapye, Botswana.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 01:29 AM

GUEST moona magolo, thank you for your 27 Aug 09 - 09:52 PM post.

I'am sure that other Mudcat members and guests join me in welcoming you to this forum, if indeed this is your first time posting here. Comments such as yours are one of the reasons why reading Mudcat Discussion Forum threads can be such a culturally enriching experience.

I respectfully request that you share on this thread your translation of the words to "Nkose Sikelele Africa" or that you post a hyperlink to an online page where your Rnglish and Dutch translations can be found.

Although I don't know Dutch, other people who read this thread now and in the future could indeed know that language. And having found this thread, they should be able to have access to a version of "Nkose Sikelele Africa" that is more than the "kitchen versions" that you said used to be the only versions of this important song
that used to be available in the Dutch language.


Thank you, "moona magolo" for caring about this song,

Azizi Powell

(USA)

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 01:31 AM

Of course, it would be even better if you shared your English and your Dutch translations.

I don't think there are many people left who understand "Rnglish".

:o)

Azizi Powell

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 01:40 AM

Here is the hyperlink to the website Bagpuss posted in 2007.

http://www.salanguages.com/anthem/index.htm

Here is the content of that page:

South African National Anthem


Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
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!

Uit die blou van onse hemel, 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.


-snip-

Links to several audio files are also found on that page.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 04:16 PM

Not just South Africa - Tanzania also uses the tune, with Swahili lyrics.

Here's a YouTube clip of the Tanzanian version, with a very pleasant film to go with it, and an infectious guitar accompaniment.   (By infectious I mean it makes you want to try and play it.)

Kiswahili Lyrics

Mungu ibariki Africa
Wabariki Viongozi wake
Hekima Umoja na Amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.

Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.

Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na Umoja
Wake kwa Waume na Watoto
Mungu Ibariki,
Tanzania na watu wake.

Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.

English Translation

God Bless Africa.
Bless its leaders.
Let Wisdom Unity and
Peace be the shield of
Africa and its people.

Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless the children of Africa.

God Bless Tanzania.
Grant eternal Freedom and Unity
To its sons and daughters.
God Bless Tanzania and its People.

Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless the children of Tanzania.

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 04:15 PM

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,Dot Scott
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 09:46 AM

I was in SA in l997 and bought CD with this song on it and recorded on my computer - CD has been stolen - would like to replace

All info I have is Ouvulh   NIKOSI SIEKELE

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 09:53 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qXKur2FAN7g

Subject: RE: Nkose Sikelele Africa
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 10:00 AM

'Afrika/The Call of South Africa". It is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world, by virtue of being the only one that starts in one key and finishes in another. The lyrics employ the five most populous 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).

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo Iwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela thina lusapho Iwayo

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, o se boloke setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa
South Africa...

Uit die blou van onse hemel
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'

From the Youtube site linked at 26 Dec 11 - 09:53 AM

Subject: ADD: Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 02:47 AM

This is from a defunct African National Congress Website:

This is the official version of the national anthem, combining Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem / The Call of South Africa

Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa la 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, Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

South Africa's National Anthem

---

Contents

• The National Anthem
• History of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
• Enoch Sontonga - composer
• Classic Xhosa Version
• Original English Translation
• Current Xhosa Version
• Current Sotho Version
• Current Zulu Version
• Current English Version
• Current Afrikaans Version

---

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 zezimhlonele,
Azisikelele.

Sikelel' amadod' esizwe,
Sikelela kwa nomlisela
Ulitwal'ilizwe ngomonde,
Uwusikelele.

Sikelel'amakosikazi;
Nawo onk'amanenekazi;
Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana
Uwusikelele.

Sikelela abafundisi
Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe;
Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako
Ubasikelele.

Sikelel'ulimo nemfuyo;
Gxota zonk'indlala nezifo;
Zalisa ilizwe ngempilo
Ulisikelele

Sikelel'amalinge etu
Awomanyano nokuzaka,
Awemfundo nemvisiswano
Uwasikelele.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika;
Cima bonk' ubugwenxa bayo
Nezigqito, nezono zayo
Uyisikelele.

---

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.

---

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)

---

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.

---

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)

---

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.

Subject: RE: origin: Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 02:57 AM

The Presidency of South Africa also has a presentation on the National Anthem:

National Anthem

A proclamation issued by the then State President, Nelson Mandela, on 20 April 1994 in terms of the provisions of Section 248 (1) together with Section 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993), stated that the Republic of South Africa would have two national anthems. They were Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa (Die Stem van Suid-Afrika). In terms of Section 4 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), and following a proclamation in the Government Gazette No. 18341 (dated 10 October 1997), a shortened, combined version of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa is now the national anthem of South Africa.

It is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world, by virtue of being the only one that starts in one key and finishes in another. The lyrics employ the five most populous of South Africa's eleven official languages - isiXhosa (first stanza, first two lines), isiZulu (first stanza, last two lines), seSotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza) and English (final stanza).

Nkosi Sekelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist school teacher. It was originally sung as a church hymn but later became an act of political defiance against the apartheid Government. Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Call of South Africa was written by C.J. Langenhoven in 1918. "Die Stem" was the co-national anthem with God Save the King/Queen from 1936 to 1957, when it became the sole national anthem until 1994. The South African Government under Nelson Mandela adopted both songs as national anthems from 1994 until they were merged in 1997 to form the current anthem.

Lyrics

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.	(Xhosa and Zulu)
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.	(Sesotho)
Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee,	(Afrikaans)
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.	(English)

English translation of Xhosa and Zulu version

Lord bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high
Hear our petitions
Lord bless us, your children

English translation of Sesotho version

Lord we ask You to protect our nation
Intervene and end all conflicts
Protect us, protect our nation
Protect South Africa, South Africa

English translation of Afrikaans version

Out of the blue of our heavens
Out of the depths of our seas
Over our everlasting mountains
Where the echoing crags resound

Subject: RE: origin: Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 04:18 AM

Have only just come across this thread. There is a beautiful version that was recorded in London c. 1930 by Griffiths Motsieloa and Company and issued as a 78rpm record on the "Singer" label. The group sing the song with great dignity. It is available on a superb 4 CD set "Opika Pende - Africa at 78 RPM" Dust-to-Digital DTD-22 (CD4 track 25). According to the set's notes the song had first been recorded in 1923. Motsieloa (1896 - 1950) was a bandleader & actor and was helped out on the recording by three South African students, then living in GB. They were Ignatius Monare, Conference Setlogelo and Samuel Putsoane. Motsieloa later became Gallo Records' first black African talent scout.