Thinking of Nelson Mandela
Since 1997, the South African national anthem has been a hybrid song, combining extracts of the hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and the former anthem Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (The Call of South Africa) together with new lyrics in English. In total, the anthem uses five of South Africa's eleven official languages (Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English).
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 Afrika — South Afrika.
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,
Let us live and strive for freedom
In South Africa our land
Understand its roots and the wonder of the accomplishments of the man and the transition he created for his country --
With this excerpt from the closing "credits" for the 1987 film Cry Freedom: HERE
And, also from 1987, Paul Simon's controversial-at-the-time concert appearance in Zimbabwe: HERE
Consider the man. Cherish the memory.
