Since 1997, the South African national anthem is a fusion of new lyrics in English, hymn Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika or God bless Africa and the former national anthem, Die Stem van Suid previous-Africa (South Africa's voice).
National anthems of South Africa is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world. Interestingly, this song combines the most popular of the five official languages of South Africa's 11 official languages, namely Xhosa (first stanza, first two lines), Zulu (first stanza, last two lines), Sesotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza) and English (final stanza).
With 11 official languages, South Africa has a diversity and we will find a mix of cultures there. One of them contained in their national anthem properly.
Nkosi Sikelel 'iAfrika prepared in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist teacher. Fact is sung as a hymn in church, but later transformed into a symbol of resistance against the apartheid government. While Die Stem van Suid-Africa is a poem written by CJ Langenhoven in 1918, then made the song by the Reverend Marthinus Lourens de Villiers in 1921.
Die Stem to be the national anthem with God Save the Queen from 1926 until 1957 and then became the sole national anthem until 1995.
South African government in 1995 under the leadership of Nelson Manedela then decided to adopt both the song became the national anthem until it merged in 1997
