South African adults told to learn the words to their national anthem
They've got their vuvuzelas at the ready and know the Diski dance off by heart. But with just a few days to go before the launch of the World Cup in South Africa, there's one thing the more aged Bafana Bafana supporters haven't quite got. Their national anthem. Read more and see the videos...
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Campaign from World Cup organisation Football Fridays: "Learn the words to the national anthem and understand them. The world will be watching (and listening)".
They've got their vuvuzelas at the ready and know the Diski dance off by heart. But with just a few days to go before the launch of the World Cup in South Africa, there's one thing the more aged Bafana Bafana supporters haven't quite got. Their national anthem.
Like all other nationalities, South African supporters will be expected to sing along to their national anthem, the Nkosi Sikelel i'Afrika (God Save Africa) at the beginning of each match.
The problem is, that not many adults know all the words, which comprise of two songs - the anthem adopted in 1927 and an anti-apartheid hymn - merged together in 1997. Even the national rugby team is incapable of reciting it (see video).
In order to prevent further embarrassment, Bafana Bafana fans are being encouraged to learn the lyrics online. There are no excuses - the song is even downloadable in MP3 format.
Video posted by Mike Said.
Singer learns Xhosa and Sesotha language parts
Posted on YouTube by adamshanedavis.
Three-year-old shows up the adults
Posted on YouTube by "DurbanAccomodation".
TV channels chime in
Posted on YouTube by "sabc".
"It is a large group of mainly white adults who still battle with the anthem”
Mike Said is a marketing strategist from Johannesburg. He writes the blog Too Much Coffee.
It is true that many South Africans do not know the entire anthem but there are some mitigating circumstances you should be aware of.
South Africa is a country with nine official languages and our anthem is quite unique in that it has at least four languages in it, many of which have not even been learned by everyone.
You will find that most if not all school children who have been taught the anthem and the languages throughout their school going years know it perfectly well. It is a large group of mainly white adults who have never learned any of the African languages who still battle with the anthem.
Many have learned it through perseverance or fun videos like the one on YouTube but be assured we are all proud of our anthem, our flag and our country!"
The illustrated lyrics in their entirety are available here.