Chapter 1
The birth of the twelve tongued nation
Chapter 2
The linguistic melting pot of the streets
Chapter 3
One anthem, five languages
Chapter 4
Making twelve languages work in real life
Ch 3 · One anthem, five languages
thabo South African National Anthem
Five different languages inside one song (inside one song!) / We change the key as we sing along (we sing along!)
BETA
thabo Mix the anthem's five languages to discover how South Africa builds a united nation.
thabo The hybrid national anthem merges the 1897 Enoch Sontonga hymn Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika with the apartheid-era Die Stem van Suid-Afrika.
Quiz
Who composed the music and wrote the original lyrics for the hymn 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' in 1897?
Quiz
Which apartheid-era state anthem was combined with 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' to create the modern South African anthem?
thabo The anthem transitions through isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English lyrics.
Quiz
How many of South Africa's official languages are featured in the lyrics of the national anthem?
Quiz
In which two languages are the opening lines of the South African national anthem sung?
Fun Fact
An anthem that shifts: The South African national anthem is the only one in the world that does not end in the same key in which it starts.
Quiz
Which global leader championed the creation of the combined, multi-language national anthem in the 1990s?
Quiz
How did the apartheid government treat the singing of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' before 1994?
Glossary
anthem (noun)
A song of devotion or patriotism, especially one officially adopted by a nation. In 1997, South Africa merged two opposing songs into a single composition featuring five different official languages.
A song of devotion or patriotism, especially one officially adopted by a nation. In 1997, South Africa merged two opposing songs into a single composition featuring five different official languages.
Quiz
What unique musical feature does the South African national anthem possess due to its blended origin?