Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
"God Bless Africa " is a Christian hymn composed by Xhosa clergyman Enoch Sontonga in 1897 near Johannesburg. It became a pan-African liberation song.[1]
"Namibia, Land of the Brave ", "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free " and the National Anthem of South Africa use the same melody of this song. "Mungu ibariki Afrika ", the Tanzanian national anthem, is also based on it.
Lyrics [ ]
Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika (God Bless Africa) - Stellenbosch University Choir
The words of the first stanza and chorus were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas were added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi .
Xhosa original
English translation
Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika
Malupakam' upondo lwayo;
Yiva imitandazo yetu
Chorus:
Yihla Moya, yihla Moya
Yihla Moya Oyingcwele
Sikelela iNkosi zethu;
Zimkumbule umDali wazo;
Zimoyike zezimhlouele,
Azisikelele.
Sikelel' amadol' esizwe,
Sikelela kwa nomlisela
Ulitwal' ilizwe ngomonde,
Uwusikilele.
Sikelel' amakosikazi;
Nawo onk'amanenekazi;
Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana
Uwusikilele.
Sikelela abafundisi
Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe;
Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako
Ubasikelele.
Sikelel' ulimo nemfuyo;
Gzota zonk'indlala nezifo;
Zalisa ilizwe nempilo
Ulisikelele.
Sikelel' amalinga etu
Awomanyana nokuzaka,
Awemfundo nemvisiswano
Uwasikele
Nkosi Sikelel, Afrika;
Cima bonk' ubugwenza bayo
Neziggito, Nezono zayo
Uwazikelele.}}
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 us.
References [ ]
↑ Coplan, David B.; Jules-Rosette, Bennetta (2004). 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika': From Independent Spirit to Political Mobilization. Cahiers d'Études Africaines . 44 (173/174): 343–367. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.4631.