Know our Anthem

The Hong Kong Sevens is almost upon us and with the Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu having declared his mission to capture the Cup for the first time ever, it’s time to polish our knowledge of the South African National Anthem. 

I noticed at the previous Cup Finals, notably the New Zealand and USA Sevens, that the anthems of the finalists were not played.  I could be wrong, but as far as I remember, the anthem of the Cup finalists are still played here in Hong Kong. OK, Maybe I visited the sponsor’s brew bar too many times in previous years! Cheers to that Guinness!

So, mense, to prepare you for the Hong Kong Sevens Cup Final 2010, where South Africa will play …..? here’s a little tutorial to help you sing you South African National Anthem uit volle bors (like we say in Afrikaans!):

(The Afrikaans translation is within brackets, for the English translation, refer to the YouTube video below)

[Xhosa]

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika

(Here, seën Afrika)

Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,

 (Mag haar gees opstyg)

[Zoeloe]

Yizwa imithandazo yethu,

(Hoor ons gebede aan)

Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

(Here, seën ons, u kinders.)

[Sesotho]

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,

(Here, beskerm ons nasie)

O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,

(Verban oorloë en twis)

O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika!

(Beskerm ons, beskerm ons nasie, Suid-Afrika)

[Afrikaans]

Uit die blou van onse hemel,

Uit die diepte van ons see,

Oor ons ewige gebergtes,

Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

(English)

Sounds the call to come together,

And united we shall stand,

Let us live and strive for freedom,

In South Africa our land.

Daar het jy dit nou!

The full rendition will be done just before the Cup Final of the 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suiise Hong Kong Sevens.  See you at the Hong Kong Stadium!