Ishe Komborera Africa

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Ishe Komborera Africa
English: God Bless Africa
Former national anthem of
Simudzai Mureza wedu weZimbabwe"
Audio sample
"Ishe Komborera Africa" (instrumental)

"Ishe Komborera Africa" (Shona for: God Bless Africa), also called "Ishe Komborera Zimbabwe" (Shona for: God Bless Zimbabwe),[1] was the Zimbabwean national anthem from 1980 to 1994. It was the country's first national anthem after gaining independence in 1980. It is a translation of 19th-century South African schoolteacher Enoch Sontonga's popular African hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" into Zimbabwe's native Shona and Ndebele languages.[2][3]

The song was first translated into Shona in the early 20th century and was initially popular with all sections of society in Southern Rhodesia. Following Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, it was polarized as a symbol of the Zimbabwe liberation movement. It was adopted in 1980 following Zimbabwe's independence as a show of solidarity with other African movements in countries under apartheid. It was replaced as the national anthem of Zimbabwe in 1994 by "Simudzai Mureza wedu weZimbabwe" (Shona for: Raise Our Zimbabwean Flag) as part of a move to adopt a uniquely Zimbabwean composition for use as the national anthem, but it still remains very popular in the country.[4]

History

National anthems of Zimbabwe
 "God Save the Queen" (Unofficial)1890–1901
 "God Save the King" (Unofficial)1901–1923
 "God Save the King"1923–1952
 "God Save the Queen"1952–1965
 "God Save the Queen"1965–1970
 "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia"1974–1979
 "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia"1979
 "God Save the Queen"1979–1980
 "Ishe Komborera Africa"1980–1994
 "National Anthem of Zimbabwe" 1994–present

In the early 20th century, "Nkosi Sikielel' iAfrika" was becoming popular with black Africans. In

British South African Police athletics competition, "Ishe Komborera Africa" was sung by combined black and white policemen to commemorate the first multi-racial competition in Southern Rhodesia.[6]

Following

God Save the Queen" of Southern Rhodesia and "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" of Rhodesia as the national anthem of an independent Zimbabwe as it was a symbol of black African struggles and solidarity against apartheid systems in South Africa and South West Africa.[9][10] At the Zimbabwean independence ceremony, the Union Jack was lowered to "God Save the Queen" and the new flag of Zimbabwe was raised to "Ishe Komborera Africa" in Salisbury.[11]

Replacement

In 1994, it was deemed that Zimbabwe should change its national anthem to avoid similarities with other countries who used the tune of "Ishe Kombererra Africa".

ZANU-PF to remove references to God from Zimbabwe's official proceedings.[13]

The change of anthem from "Ishe Komberera Africa" was later confirmed by the Parliament of Zimbabwe in 1995 by the passage of the National Anthem of Zimbabwe Act. The act also made it a criminal offence to insult the new national anthem and also granted the President of Zimbabwe the right to make regulations controlling its use and how it was to be sung.[14]

Legacy

Despite being replaced as the Zimbabwe national anthem, "Ishe Komborera Africa" is still popular in Zimbabwe. It is still used as a hymn within Zimbabwean churches.

African elephants were not endangered in some countries and thus their ivory could be exported from those countries, representatives of the African nations celebrated by singing "Ishe Komborera Africa" while conservationists cried.[16]

"Ishe Komborera Africa" has also erroneously been played as the Zimbabwean national anthem instead of "Simudzai Mureza wedu weZimbabwe" since losing its status as Zimbabwe's national anthem. In 2004, at the

African Athletics Championships in the Republic of the Congo when the Zimbabwean men's relay team won gold. The Zimbabwean team insisted the correct national anthem be played; however, as the band were unable to perform it, Lloyd Zvasiya sang it himself through a microphone.[4]

Shona lyrics

Ishe komborera Africa
Ngaisimudzirwe zita rayo
Inzwai miteuro yedu
Ishe komborera,
Isu, mhuri yayo.
Huya mweya
Huya mweya komborera
(repeat previous two lines)
Huya mweya
Huya mweya mutsvene
Uti komborere
Isu mhuri yayo.

English lyrics

God bless Africa,
Let her fame spread far and wide!
Hear our prayer,
May God bless us!
Come, Spirit, come!
Come! Holy Spirit!
Come and bless us, her children!

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781471406874
    .
  2. ISBN 0253287979
    .
  3. ^ "Zimbabwe (1980–1994)". Nationalanthems.info. Archived from the original on 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  4. ^ a b "Zimbabwe athlete sings own anthem". BBC News. 2004-07-19. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  5. ^
    ISBN 0253109337
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1580463805
    .
  7. ISBN 3927510548
    .
  8. ISBN 978-1317115663
    .
  9. ^ Charamba, Charles (2016-07-17). "Xenophobia: But we sang for your freedom". The Sunday Mail. Archived from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  10. ISBN 978-1482824919
    .
  11. ^ Vambe, Maurice (2007-06-26). "Zimbabwe: National anthem embodies nationhood". The Herald. Retrieved 2016-07-22 – via AllAfrica (subscription required).
  12. ISBN 978-1317195856
    .
  13. ^ Makotose, Peter (2016-05-17). "Minister Dokora's strategy: I pray it does not succeed in Zimbabwe". Nehanda Radio. Archived from the original on 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  14. ^ "NATIONAL ANTHEM OF ZIMBABWE ACT 10 15". Parliament of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  15. ^ Chifamba, Obert (2013-11-06). "Hymns 'save' Boys of Thunder". The Herald. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  16. ^ "SADC: New Era For Wildlife Resources". Inter Press Service English News Wire. 1997-06-25. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  17. ^ "Anger over Zimbabwe anthem gaffe". BBC News. 2004-01-26. Archived from the original on 2004-02-29. Retrieved 2016-07-22.

External links

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