“NkosiSikelel' iAfrika (The Call of South Africa)”:South Africa’s National Anthem

INSTRUCTIONS: First, read the lyrics of South Africa’s national anthem which appear below. Next, respond to the questions which appear beneath the lyrics. You may use your own piece of paper, or use the back of this paper. Be sure to respond to the questions in complete sentences.

Nkosisikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondolwayo,
Yizwaimithandazoyethu,
Nkosisikelela, thinalusapholwayo.
Morenabolokasetjhabasaheso,
O fedisedintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se bolokesetjhabasaheso,
Setjhabasa South Afrika – South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onsehemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Ooronsewigegebergtes,
Waar die kranseantwoord gee,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land. / Lord, bless Africa
May her spirit rise high up,
Hear thou our prayers,
Lord bless us.
Lord, bless Africa,
Banish wars and strife,
Lord, bless our nation,
Of South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens,
From our deep seas breaking round,
Over everlasting mountains,
Where the echoing crags resound,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

1. How is Africa personified in the first stanza of the anthem? What is the effect of this personification?

2. How is the landscape of South Africa described in stanza three? What is the effect of this description?

3. What is the effect of the repeated use of the pronoun “our” throughout the anthem?

4. The first stanza is Xhosa and Zulu, the second stanza is Sesotho, the third is Afrikaans, and the fourth is English. What is the significance of the anthem being written in five languages?

5. How does the final stanza of the anthem reflect an apartheid-free South Africa?

“NkosiSikelel' iAfrika (The Call of South Africa)”:South Africa’s National Anthem

INSTRUCTIONS: First, read the lyrics of South Africa’s national anthem which appear below. Next, respond to the questions which appear beneath the lyrics. You may use your own piece of paper, or use the back of this paper. Be sure to respond to the questions in complete sentences.

Nkosisikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondolwayo,
Yizwaimithandazoyethu,
Nkosisikelela, thinalusapholwayo.
Morenabolokasetjhabasaheso,
O fedisedintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se bolokesetjhabasaheso,
Setjhabasa South Afrika – South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onsehemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Ooronsewigegebergtes,
Waar die kranseantwoord gee,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land. / Lord, bless Africa
May her spirit rise high up,
Hear thou our prayers,
Lord bless us.
Lord, bless Africa,
Banish wars and strife,
Lord, bless our nation,
Of South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens,
From our deep seas breaking round,
Over everlasting mountains,
Where the echoing crags resound,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

1. How is Africa personified in the first stanza of the anthem? What is the effect of this personification?

2. How is the landscape of South Africa described in stanza three? What is the effect of this description?

3. What is the effect of the repeated use of the pronoun “our” throughout the anthem?

4. The first stanza is Xhosa and Zulu, the second stanza is Sesotho, the third is Afrikaans, and the fourth is English. What is the significance of the anthem being written in five languages?

5. How does the final stanza of the anthem reflect an apartheid-free South Africa?