THROUGH SONG AND DANCE, UNITED WE STAND

What is a national anthem?

For a country, a national anthem is an uplifting or arousing melody, a solemn patriotic song bringing beating hearts together. In 2017, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was recognised by The Economist as a national anthem that goes above and beyond the general description, especially regarding the history of the country and its beautiful people. The magazine named the South African anthem one of the best in the world, and we couldn't agree more; the song is described as a "rousing tune" and "an act of musical healing". In the spirit of Ubuntu and the celebration of our nation, the Anthem Project was born.

5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

There are very few things in South Africa that represent our diversity as perfectly as the Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika. Find out more fascinating facts about the South African anthem and the rich history the song holds below:

• Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is one of three neo-model anthems, meaning the song's melody starts in one key and ends with another.
• The South African anthem was officially adopted in 1997 after former President Nelson Mandela called for Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika and Die Stem to be shortened and combined into the song we all know and love today.
• The anthem consists of five out of the eleven official languages of South Africa. These languages include isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
• The melody of the national anthem was arranged by two people: Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, a renowned composer, pianist, and teacher, and Mzilikazi Khumalo, a composer and Professor of African Languages.
• In 2007, the Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika was named one of the best national anthems in the world due to its musical ability to heal.

For international visitors, our unity and rainbow nation continue to inspire. In addition, we pride ourselves on being South African and supporting locals. To experience our nation's essence and rich history, visit the Shimansky Diamond Experience and discover the country's most beautiful treasure: a diamond.