Nkosi Sikelel’, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, noun phrase

/(ə)ŋˈkɔ(ː)si siɡeˈlel (iˈaːfrika)//(ə)nˈkɔsi sɪkəlel (iˈæfrɪkə)/
Forms:
Nkosi i sikeleli Afrika, N’kosi SikelelaShow more Also Nkosi i sikeleli Afrika, N’kosi Sikelela, Nkosi Sikelele, Nkosi Sikelele Afrika, Nkosi Sikelel’ i-Afrika, Nkosi i Afrika, Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika, and with small initials.
Origin:
IsiXhosaShow more IsiXhosa sentence, Inkosi Lord, God + sikelela bless + iAfrika Africa; the first line of a hymn composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga.
The music or words of a hymn long perceived as the national anthem of the Black peoples of southern Africa; under the Government of National Unity (1994), one of the two official national anthems of South Africa. See also die Stem (Stem).
Note:
The poet S.E. Mqayi added seven additional stanzas to the hymn. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was adopted as the anthem of the African National Congress in 1925; translated into many African languages, it is also the national anthem of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
1934 Cape Argus 17 Feb. (Swart)The most novel experience of the day for the Prince was the singing of N’kosi Sikelela, the Xosa anthem, by a large choir of Bantu men, women and children.
1941 W.M.B. Nhlapo in Bantu World 22 Feb. 5He was carried shoulder high down Main Street by some Bantu singing beautifully our sacred national anthem..‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’.
1948 A. Paton Cry, Beloved Country 267Nkosi Sikel’él’ iAfrika...This lovely hymn is rapidly becoming accepted as the national anthem of the black people. At any mixed meeting therefore, where goodwill prevails, three such anthems are sung in conclusion, ‘God save the King’, ‘Die Stem Van Suid-Afrika’, and ‘Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika’.
1955 W. Illsley Wagon on Fire 219Let us terminate this meeting with the African National Anthem. In a flash he struck up and led the crowd in singing: Nkosi i sikeleli Afrika.
1962 A.J. Luthuli Let my People Go 81Nkosi Sikelel’ i-Afrika. [Source Note: This means ‘God Save Africa’. The hymn is a sort of unofficial national Anthem of black South Africa, and the theme song of the African National Congress.]
1963 K. Mackenzie Dragon to Kill 138‘Nkosi Sikelel’ i Afrika’, the virtual national anthem of the Africans.
1981 Evening Post 26 Oct. 1Apartheid has resulted in most whites considering Die Stem as the country’s anthem, while all Blacks regard Nkosi Sikelele Afrika as their anthem...Dr Motlana predicted that Nkosi Sikelele Afrika..would one day become the official South African national anthem.
1987 Sunday Times 25 Jan. 2In Lusaka, the ANC meeting kicked off with choirs and the audience singing the ‘alternative national anthem’, ‘Nkosi sikelel.’
1992 Natal Witness 30 Dec. 9There were strong arguments for adopting Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika as the new national anthem. It was widely accepted in southern Africa because it was a prayer without political references.
The music or words of a hymn long perceived as the national anthem of the Black peoples of southern Africa; under the Government of National Unity (1994), one of the two official national anthems of South Africa.
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IsiXhosa
Nkone, nounn.nog, adverbadv.
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