Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

Lyrics - Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, English

(Melody by Enoch Sontonga, 1897 & Marthinus Lourens de Villiers, 1921, Lyrics by C.J. Langenhoven, 1918)

Xhosa:
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,

Zulu:
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Sesotho:
Morena boloka setshaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setshaba sa heso,
Setshaba sa, South Afrika, South Afrika.

Afrikaans:
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

English:
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom
In South Africa our land!

English Translation

From Xhosa:
Lord bless Africa
Rise high, Her glory

From Zulu:
Listen also to our prayers,
Lord bless us, her (Africa) family.

From Sesotho:
Lord protect our nation,
Stop wars and sufferings,
protect it, Protect our nation,
The nation of South Africa, South Africa.

From Afrikaans:
Ringing out from our blue heavens,
From the depths of our sea,
Over our everlasting mountains,
Where the echoing crags resound!

See also

YouTube

  • PDF of song with chords
  • MIDI file
  • Listen to the melody

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