Soweto Gospel Choir - Nkosi Sikelel (South African National Anthem)

The national anthem of South Africa is a shortened, combined version of “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (God Bless Africa) and “The Call of South Africa” (known in Afrikaans as “Die Stem van Suid Afrika”).

A proclamation issued by the State President on 20 April, 1994 stipulated that both Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem would be the national anthems of South Africa.

The combined anthem came into effect on October, 1997, after the English words were added and the musical re-arrangement done by Jeanne Rudolph.

In the national anthem the first verse is performed in Xhosa (first two lines) and Zulu (third and fourth lines). The second verse is performed in Sesotho.