Know your Anthem

FNB has a Know your Anthem campaign challenging all South Africans to know all the words to Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika by Freedom Day, 27 April and the day when Mbeki will be inaugurated. They have correctly observed that far too many South Africans have to hum along to certain parts as they don’t actually know the words.

Personally I think this is a great idea but I am finding that this is easier said then done. I have found stacks of sites with the words and/or the music but I am trying to find a website that has the pronunciation of the words as many people struggle with this. If anybody knows of a website that has a recording/pronunciation of the words please post the link in the comments section.

What I have found is an awesome rendition of the original Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika that you can listen to here (the top Anthem link). Listening to this I get goose bumps and my heart swells with pride, corny I know but we have the best national anthem in the world (does everybody say that about their anthem?).

Herewith is our Anthem…

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.

Comments

[Robelle]

hi, i actually come from south africa...
but, i moved to canada at a young age and i can never remember how you pronounce the national anthem. i want to know because i miss my country very much. i am hoping that when i get older i will get a good job that includes having to travel al over the world. that means i could have a chance to see my home counrty once again.
so, please, please tell my how you pronouce the anthem in africaans and zulu, and any other languange you can get. i would cry my eyes out the next time i hear my national anthem, because it brings bag those warm summer day memories.

robelle_sparky@hotmail.com
(aka robelle)

[sharif anselm kondoch ole somoire]

dear friends,
i am very happy to have found your web-page, since "god bless africa" was the national anthem in many african countries incl. kenya.
i am glad to know the version of your country.
please help me by sending the notes for the tune to my address.
thanks in advance
yours sincerely
ole somoire

[Rethabile Masilo]

Ta. It's a nice anthem. I guess by nature national anthems must say "Our Land" once or even a few times. Like the Lesotho anthem (First Verse). I recently went digging to see if it is, indeed, our land. Looking at the meaning of each verse, each stanza, of a national anthem is an interesting endeavour that I encourage. It means in the future you won't be singing a meaningless tune, but one whose every word has meaning and significance.

[Jonathan Edelstein]

No isiZulu verse? Buthelezi must not be happy.

[zaBlogger]

First paragraph is Xhosa, second is Sesotho, third is Afrikaans and fourth English.

English translation of the anthem;

God bless Africa,
Lift her horn on high,
Hear our prayers.
God bless us
Who are Your people.

God save our nation,
End wars and strife.
South Africa.

Ringing out from our blue heavens,
from our deep seas breaking round;
Over everlasting mountains
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.

[Rethabile Masilo]

What does the Afrikaans stanza say?