Pan african national anthem

South African Xhosa composer (c. 1873 – 1905)

Musical artist

Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (c. 1873 – 18 April 1905) was a South African composer, who is best known for writing the Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (English: "God Bless Africa"), which, in abbreviated version, has been sung as the first half of the national anthem of South Africa since 1994.

Previously, it had been the official anthem of the African National Congress since 1925.

Nkosi sikelela lyrics

History of national anthem

Nkosi sikelela song

Old national anthem of south africa

Nkosi sikelel' iafrika lyrics in english

It was also adopted by South Africa's newly formed northern neighbour, Zimbabwe and translated into Shona, "Ishe Komborera Afrika" from 1980 until 1994.

Early life and education

Sontonga, a Xhosa, was born in the city of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape Colony.

He trained as a teacher at the Lovedale Institution and subsequently worked as a teacher and choirmaster at the Methodist Mission school in Nancefield, near Johannesburg for eight years.^[1]

Career

The first verse and chorus of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfr