It was sung as an act of defiance during the Apartheid years. It became a popular church hymn that was later adopted as an anthem at political meetings. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was popularised at concerts held in Johannesburg by Reverend JL Dube's Ohlange Zulu Choir. A Sesotho version was published by Moses Mphahlele in 1942. Seven additional stanzas in Xhoza were later added by the poet, Samuel Mqhayi. The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist mission school teacher. In 1952, the official English version of the national anthem, The Call of South Africa was accepted for official use. In the same year, government also acquired the copyright and this was confirmed by an Act of Parliament in 1959. It was first sung publicly at the official hoisting of the national flag in Cape Town on, but it was not until that government made the announcement that Die Stem had been accepted as the official national anthem of South Africa. The South African Broadcasting Corporation played both God save the King and Die Stem to close their daily broadcasts and the public became familiar with it. The music was composed by the Reverend ML de Villiers in 1921. The Call of South Africa (Die Stem van Suid-Afrika)ĭie Stem van Suid-Afrika is a poem written by CJ Langenhoven in May 1918. 18341 (dated 10 October 1997), a shortened, combined version of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa is now the national anthem of South Africa. In terms of Section 4 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), and following a proclamation in the Government Gazette No. They were Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa ( Die Stem van Suid-Afrika). History Words Sheet music Listen to the anthem Protocol on respecting the National AnthemĪ proclamation issued by the (then) State President on 20 April 1994 in terms of the provisions of Section 248 (1) together with Section 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993), stated that the Republic of South Africa would have two national anthems.

The prayer sheet music pdf