The South African National Anthem

Michael S. Levy, Consultant Musicologist.

 

The South African National Anthem is a combination of two separate pieces of vocal music:-

 

“Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika” (1897), music and lyrics by Enoch Sontonga (ca. 1873 – 1905), was officially adopted as the closing anthem for meetings of the African National Congress in 1925.   
 

“Die Stem van Suid-Afrika” (1921), music by Marthinus Lourens de Villiers (1885 - 1977), lyrics by Cornelius Jacobus Langenhoven (1873 - 1932), was adopted as the official National Anthem of South Africa in May 1957, by the government of the day. 

 

In 1993, the Multi-Party Negotiation Process (MPNP) began in Kempton Park outside Johannesburg with the aim of creating a democratic South Africa. It produced the Interim Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which regulated government of the country through the 1994 elections until the adoption of the final Constitution in 1996.

 

Prof. Elize Botha was appointed Chairman of the Commission on National Symbols by the Multi-party Negotiating Council.  This Council invited submissions from the public for the adoption of a new National Anthem.  A Sub-Committee was appointed to oversee this process.  Although more than 200 proposed anthems were received, none was considered suitable. 

 

The Sub-Committee then suggested the combining of “Die Stem van Suid-Afrika” and  “Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika” to constitute the new National Anthem.  This proposal was accepted by the Negotiating Council, and this combination of the two works was, at first, the official National Anthem from 1994.

 

However, it was immediately apparent that the Anthem was extremely long.  The Cabinet thus called into being a Committee to produce a shortened version in both choral and instrumental settings.  The members of the Anthem Committee were:-

 

                                                Ms Anna Bender

                                                Prof. Elize Botha

                                                Mr Richard Cock

                                                Mr Dolf Havemann (Secretary)

Prof. Mzilikazi Khumalo (Chairman & then Vice Chairman of SAMRO)

                                                Prof. Masizi Kunene

                                                Prof. John Lenake

                                                Prof. Fatima Meer

                                                Prof. Khabi Mngoma

                                                Dr Wally Serote

                                                Prof. Johan de Villiers

                                                Dr Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph

 

The Anthem Committee commenced work in February 1995, and, in May of the same year, made several proposals to the Cabinet, which chose one of them. 

 

The selected version was officially adopted as the National Anthem of South Africa by the  President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, by Proclamation No. 68 in the Government Gazette of 10 October 1997, as printed in a Schedule to the Proclamation in both Staff Notation and Tonic Sol-fa. 

 

In this form, the National Anthem is an adaptation of the two constituent works, the main changes being to the lyrics.  Dr (now Prof.) Zaidel-Rudolph, who has been a member of the Board of SAMRO since 2008, produced the official orchestration of the proclaimed version for use either as accompaniment to the singing, or for purely instrumental performance. 

 

References:

 

Proclamation No. 68 in the Government Gazette of 10 October 1997

The National Anthem of the Republic of South Africa, Notes, Mzilikazi Khumalo, 2001

 

 

The National Anthem of South Africa is owned by the State, which has determined that the work is in the Public Domain.   Thus, in practice, no copyright revenue is accrued by the work, not even for arrangements or adaptations of the music and/or lyrics.   Anyone who wishes to use or adapt the National Anthem in any way whatsoever should make application to the State Herald in advance at   The State Herald, Private Bag X 236, Pretoria 0001.