Video & Lyrics: Viva, the Legend by Zonke Dikana

‘Viva, the legend’ by Zonke Dikana

I hear them say your name
I know you live in me
They’d say Viva! he’s a legend
And I’d smile, and my mind we would fly

Everyday of my life watching you
Nndizidla nangawe [I’m proud of you]
Ndibubona ububele bakho [seeing your kindness]
Ndinjena nje nguwe [I am who I am, its you]
Viva, you are a legend

[Humming]:
Lalaleh lala-lalalah
Hayeh lali-lalalah
Lalalih la-lalah
Haye-eh heh!
…

Babekhala bathi balahlekelwe [They cried and said they are bereaved]
Boba yintoni-na ngaphandle kwakhe, yini! [What will they be without him]
Hayi incubek’ engako nans’ ikuthi [So much luck thats on our side]
Viva, ndiyakwethembisa soze sijike [Viva, I promise you i won’t change]

Wasifundisa uthando [You taught us love]
Wasifundisa umhlaba [You taught us the world]
Wasifundisa uk’hleka [You taught us laughter]
Wasifundisa uk’vana thina [You us to get along]

Wasifundisa inyan’ [You taught us the truth]
Wathi nyamezelani [You said we must hold on]
Wasifundisa uthando, [You taught us Love]
uThando lomculo, Viva! [The Love of music, Viva!]
…

Adapted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nnqSHUlQK8

Translation: iNgoma-Yesive yaseNingizimu Afrika (siSwati)

The South African National Anthem (Various Translations)

Our National Anthem is usually (if not always) translated only into English. This being a country with 11 official languages and a people majority of whom do not speak English as their first language, its translation into other languages might help people understand and enjoy it. I have started with as many languages as I can. The rest will hopefully follow as you send in your own translations.

The following translations will almost inevitable have mistakes. I tried – using my relatively limited knowledge of most South African languages and relying heavily on online translations and dictionaries – to give translations to fit my understanding of the Anthem, so they will almost inevitably have many mistakes. The purpose of this project is not so much to provide accurate translations as it is to provide a basis from which to start. Corrections & discussions are very much encouraged.

~

[Official Anthem]:

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo.
Yizwa imithandazo yethu Nkosi,
sikelela, Thina, lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

Uit die blou van onse hemel
Uit die diepte van ons seë
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee;

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

~

[Sihumusho sesiSwati: iNgoma-Yesive yaseNingizimu Afrika]:

Nkosi busisa iAfrika! Mawuphankanyiswe umoya [luphondvo] wayo Yiva imithandazo yetfu Nkosi, busisa Tsina, lusapho lwayo

Nkosi, londvolota sive setfu Uphelise timpi netinhlupheko Usilondvolote, Usilondvolote Isive setfu Isive seNingizimu Afrika

Ningizimu Afrika!

Eluhlateni [besibhakabhaka] lwelitulu letfu Emtfomjeni [ekujuleni] wolwandle wetfu Etu kwetintsaba tetfu etinaphakadze La amawa abuyisa khona impendvulo;

Kudvuma umbito wokuhlanganyela Pho sitawuma sihlangene [simunye] Masiphilele, sisebentele inkululeko eNingizimu Afrika, live letfu!

~

Links

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa http://www.isizulu.net http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/ http://www.majstro.com/dictionaries/Afrikaans-English http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3 Vocals Only: http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3 Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

Translation: Die Nasionale Lied van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)

The South African National Anthem
(Various Translations)

Our National Anthem is usually (if not always) translated only into English. This being a country with 11 official languages and a people majority of whom do not speak English as their first language, its translation into other languages might help people understand and enjoy it. I have started with as many languages as I can. The rest will hopefully follow as you send in your own translations.

The following translations will almost inevitable have mistakes. I tried – using my relatively limited knowledge of most South African languages and relying heavily on online translations and dictionaries – to give translations to fit my understanding of the Anthem, so they will almost inevitably have many mistakes. The purpose of this project is not so much to provide accurate translations as it is to provide a basis from which to start. Corrections & discussions are very much encouraged.

~

[Official Anthem]:

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo.
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, sikelela,
Thina, lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

Uit die blou van onse hemel
Uit die diepte van ons seë
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee;

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

~

[Afrikaanse vertaling – Die Nasionale Lied van Suid-Afrika]:

Here, seën Afrika!
Mag haar gees opstyg [horing opgestyg wees]
Hoor ons gebede aan
Here, seën
Ons, haar kinders [famielie]

Here, beskerm ons nasie
Ophou alle oorloë en ontberings
Beskerm ons, beskerm ons
Ons nasie, die nasie van Suid-Afrika

Suid-Afrika!

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

Klink die oproep om saam to kom
En verenig ons sal staan
Kom ons leef en streef vir vryheid
In Suid-Afrika, ons land!

~

Links

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa
http://www.isizulu.net
http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/
http://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasionale_lied_van_Suid-Afrika
http://www.majstro.com/dictionaries/Afrikaans-English http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3
Vocals Only: http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3
Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

Translation: Pina-Ya-Setjhaba Ya Afrika Borwa (seSotho)

The South African National Anthem
(Various Translations)

Our National Anthem is usually (if not always) translated only into English. This being a country with 11 official languages and a people majority of whom do not speak English as their first language, its translation into other languages might help people understand and enjoy it. I have started with as many languages as I can. The rest will hopefully follow as you send in your own translations.

The following translations will almost inevitable have mistakes. I tried – using my relatively limited knowledge of most South African languages and relying heavily on online translations and dictionaries – to give translations to fit my understanding of the Anthem, so they will almost inevitably have many mistakes. The purpose of this project is not so much to provide accurate translations as it is to provide a basis from which to start. Corrections & discussions are very much encouraged.

~

[Official Anthem]:

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo.
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, sikelela,
Thina, lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

Uit die blou van onse hemel
Uit die diepte van ons seë
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee;

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

~

[Sefetolelo sa seSotho – Pina Ya Setjhaba Sa Afrika Borwa]:

[My grasp of seSotho is very limited so this translation is likely to be full of errors. Again, corrections & better translations are welcomed and encouraged].

Morena hlohonolofatsa Afrika
Ha a phahamisoe moya [lenaka] waso
Utlwa di thapelo ya rona
Morena, hlohonolofatsa
Rona, lelapa la yona

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa Afrika Borwa

Afrika Borwa!

Ko boputswa ba lehodimo la rona
Ko botebo ba lewatle la rona
Hodimo ka dithaba tsa rona tse di sa feleng
Ko diphoko di kgutla ko teng karabo;

Ho duma mobitso wa ho kopanya
Mme re tla ema le kopane
Ha re phelele lesebeletse tokoloho
Mo Afrika Borwa, lefatshe la rona!

~

Links

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa
http://www.isizulu.net
http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/
http://www.majstro.com/dictionaries/Afrikaans-English http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3
Vocals Only: http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3
Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

Translation: South African National Anthem (English)

The South African National Anthem
(Various Translations)

Our National Anthem is usually (if not always) translated only into English. This being a country with 11 official languages and a people majority of whom do not speak English as their first language, its translation into other languages might help people understand and enjoy it. I have started with as many languages as I can. The rest will hopefully follow as you send in your own translations.

The following translations will almost inevitable have mistakes. I tried – using my relatively limited knowledge of most South African languages and relying heavily on online translations and dictionaries – to give translations to fit my understanding of the Anthem, so they will almost inevitably have many mistakes. The purpose of this project is not so much to provide accurate translations as it is to provide a basis from which to start. Corrections & discussions are very much encouraged.

~

[Official Anthem]:

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo.
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, sikelela,
Thina, lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

Uit die blou van onse hemel
Uit die diepte van ons seë
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee;

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

~

[English Translation – The South African National Anthem]:

God [Lord] bless Africa!
May her spirit/dignity [horn] be lifted up
Hear our prayers
Lord, bless (us)
We, her children [family]

Lord, protect our nation
Banish all wars and hardships
Protect us [it], protect it
This nation of ours
The nation of South Africa

South Africa!

From the blue of our heavens
From the depths of our sea
Over our eternal mountains
Where the cliffs give answer;

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

Links

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa
http://www.isizulu.net
http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/
http://www.majstro.com/dictionaries/Afrikaans-English http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3
Vocals Only:http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3
Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

Translation: iNgoma-Yesizwe yaseNingizimu Afrika (isiZulu)

The South African National Anthem
(Various Translations)

Our National Anthem is usually (if not always) translated only into English. This being a country with 11 official languages and a people majority of whom do not speak English as their first language, its translation into other languages might help people understand and enjoy it. I have started with as many languages as I can. The rest will hopefully follow as you send in your own translations.

The following translations will almost inevitable have mistakes. I tried – using my relatively limited knowledge of most South African languages and relying heavily on online translations and dictionaries – to give translations to fit my understanding of the Anthem, so they will almost inevitably have many mistakes. The purpose of this project is not so much to provide accurate translations as it is to provide a basis from which to start. Corrections & discussions are very much encouraged.

~

[Official Anthem]:

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo.
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, sikelela,
Thina, lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

Uit die blou van onse hemel
Uit die diepte van ons seë
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee;

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

~

[Isihumusho sesiZulu: iNgoma-Yesizwe yaseNingizimu Afrika]:

Nkosi busisa iAfrika!
Mawuphankanyiswe umoya [uphondo] wayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, busisa
Thina, lusapho lwayo

Nkosi, londoloza isizwe sethu
Uphelise izimpi nezinhlupheko
Usilondoloze, Usilondoloze
Isizwe sethu
Isizwe seNingizimu Afrika

Ningizimu Afrika!

Eluhlazeni [besibhakabhaka] lwezulu lethu
Emthomjeni [ekujuleni] wolwandle wethu
Phezu kwezintaba zethu ezinaphakade
La amawa abuyisa khona impendulo;

Kuduma umbizo wokuhlanganyela
Pho sizoma sihlangene [simunye]
Masiphilele, sisebenzele inkululeko
eNingizimu Afrika, izwe lethu!

~

Links

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa
http://www.isizulu.net
http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/
http://www.majstro.com/dictionaries/Afrikaans-English http://bukantswe.sesotho.org/

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3
Vocals Only: http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3
Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

The National Anthem of the Republic of South Africa

The National Anthem of the Republic of South Africa

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi, sikelela
Thina, lusapho lwayo

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Africa

South Africa!

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

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

~

The Anthem: http://users.atw.hu/szbszig/south%20africa.mp3
Vocals Only: http://www.brandsouthafrica.com/media/football_toolkit/SA_National_Anthem.mp3
Instrumental: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/South_Africa_National_Anthem.ogg

Other Links:
http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#.U2Dq_K2Swmc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa

Lyrics: Now Or Never by Sankomota

‘Now or Never’ by Sankomota

Heyi wena Afrika
Kgale o dutse hae
Tsamaya lo ipatlela tsa bophelo
Tsoha o iketsetse.

Vuka baba, vuka
Life has been passing you by
Follow your star, it’s now or never
Hayi, you’ve got to make it better

O dutse o phuthile matsoho.
Afrika, hayi hale!
O re o shebile dintho tsa mahala.
You gonna wait forever!

O phutile matsoho,
O shebile banna ha ba sebetsa,
We ma!

Unabantu Bakho (Methodist Hymn)

Unabantu Bakho

[A Methodist Hymn adopted as an anthem by my maternal family]

[isiZulu]

Unabantu bakho, Nkosi, ngezikhati zonke.
Ubangcina, ubancede eendaweni zonke.

Mabewela imifula, ubanabo wena.
Mabeshiswa ngemililo, ubanabo wena.

Lapho beshushiswa khona, boqiniswa nguwe
Nasezilwaneni, Nkosi, bagciniwe nguwe.

Bakhangela kuwe, Nkosi, labo bantu bakho.
Bayabonga, bakuthembe, labo bantu bakho.

–

[isiXhosa]

Unabantu bakho Thixo, ngamaxesha onke.
Ubagcina, ubancede endaweni zonke.

Bakuwela imilambo, ubanabo wena
Bakutshiswa ngemililo, ubanabo wena.

Apho batshutshiswa khona, bomelezwa nguwe
Nasemarhamncweni Thixo, bagciniwe nguwe

Bakangela kuwe Nkosi, aabo bantu bakho
Babulela bakuthembe, aabo bantu bakho.

–

[English Translation]

You are with your people, God, at every moment.
You keep them, You help them through all things [places].

When they cross rivers, You are with them
When they are tested [burnt] by fires, You are with them.

Where they are persecuted, they will be strengthened by you
Even in the midst of danger [beasts], they have been kept by you

They look to you, Lord – these, your people.
They give thanks and trust you – these, your people.

The South African Lyrics WordPress Blog

If – like me – you often find yourself frustrated at the lack of South African song lyrics online, then this blog is for you. I will post lyrics to my favourite South African lyrics (especially ones that are difficult/impossible to find online) and also videos of songs I enjoy.

Send through your submissions and and your requests, and I’ll do my best to get them up as soon as possible.

This blog was inspired by the beautiful music of Mzansi Afrika, as well as the amazing work being done  by africangospellyrics.wordpress.com.

Z.