What Is The Zimbabwe National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History
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What Is The Zimbabwe National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics, And History. Photo: MidiFiles |
What Is The Zimbabwe National Anthem?
The National Anthem of Zimbabwe, also known by its incipit "Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe" (English: "O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe"; Northern Ndebele: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe"), is the national anthem of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's national anthem is a patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, and struggles of the people of Zimbabwe. It is used by the government of Zimbabwe as the official national song.
The National anthem of Zimbabwe is used in a wide array of contexts. It is played on national holidays and festivals, as well as during sporting events such as the Olympic Games. The National Anthem is played to students at the start of each school day as an exercise in patriotism. The country's national broadcasters also play the national anthem each morning at 0600hrs Zimbabwean time.
Take a look at its history, English translation, and original lyrics.
History of Zimbabwe National Anthem
It was introduced in March 1994 after a nationwide competition to replace the South African-derived "Ishe Komborera Africa" with a distinctly Zimbabwean song. The winning entry was a Shona song written by Professor Solomon Mutswairo and composed by Fred Changundega.
It has been translated into English and Ndebele, the two other main languages of Zimbabwe.
The Ndebele version is mainly sung in the Matebeleland regions of Zimbabwe, while the English version is not commonly sung. Some schools in Matabeleland South have introduced the Sotho/Tswana version.
Because Zimbabwe has 16 national languages, the lyrics of the original Shona song were translated into the other fifteen national languages as part of the 2013 Constitutional Reforms. The official texts were laid out in the 2013 Constitution, however the final English text in the Constitution varied from the more poetic and metrical version which had been in common usage up to that point, and remains so today. Both the new official text and the more common variant are listed below.
In spite of all the translations being official and of equal standing according to the Constitution, the Shona and Ndebele versions remain the two most prevalent variants in regular usage.
Some of the versions of the Zimbabwe National Anthem
Ndebele lyrics
1. Phakamisan iflegi yethu yeZimbabwe
Eyazalwa yimpi yenkululeko;
Legaz’ elinengi lamaqhawe ethu
Silivikele ezithan izonke;
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
2. Khangelan’ iZimbabwe yon’ ihlotshiwe
Ngezintaba lang’ miful’ ebukekayo,
Izulu kaline, izilimo zande;
Iz’ sebenzi zenam’, abantu basuthe;
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
3. Nkosi busis’ ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe
Ilizwe labokhokho bethu thina sonke;
Kusuk’ eZambezi kusiy’ eLimpopo
Abakhokheli babe lobuqotho;
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe.
Shona lyrics
1. Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe
Yakazvarwa nomoto wechimurenga;
Neropa zhinji ramagamba
Tiidzivirire kumhandu dzose;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
2. Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa
Namakomo, nehova, zvinoyevedza
Mvura ngainaye, minda ipe mbesa
Vashandi vatuswe, ruzhinji rugutswe;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
3. Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe
Nyika yamadzitateguru edu tose;
Kubva Zambezi kusvika Limpopo,
Navatungamiri vave nenduramo;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.
Chewa lyrics
I
O nyamulani mmwamba, mbendela yathu ya Zimbabwe
Yobadwa ndi moto wa nkhondo
Ndi gazi lofunikila la ngwazi zathu.
Tiyeni tiliteteze kwa adani onse;
Lidalitsidwe dziko la Zimbabwe.
II
Yang'anani Zimbabwe ya mphatso zambili
Ndi maphiri ndi msinje, zokongola.
Mvula igwe yambili ndi minda itulutse chakudya
Anthu onse akhuthe ndi a ntchito alipilidwe.
Lidalitsidwe dziko la Zimbabwe.
III
O Mulungu, dalitsani dziko la Zimbabwe,
Dziko la mphatso yathu,
Kuchokela ku Zambezi kufika ku Limpopo.
Atsogoleli akhale pa chilungamo ndi ubwino wowoneka.
Lidalitsidwe dziko la Zimbabwe.
Nambya lyrics
I
Nyamulani indembela yedu yeZimbabwe
Yakazwalwa nehondo yolusungunuko
Nelopa inji lyamagamba edu,
Tiyitabilije kuzwita zwose;
Ngaikombolelwe inyika yeZimbabwe.
II
Lingani Zimbabwe inyika inopenya
Namatunhu nenjizi zwinoyebeka.
Ngaine ivula ngaine zwilimwa zwiwande
Bashingi beshante nabanhu begute.
Ngaikombolelwe inyika yeZimbabwe.
III
Mwali kombolelani inyika yeZimbabwe,
Inyika yamatategulu edu isu tose,
Kuvila Zambezi kuswika Limpopo.
Batungamili bebe nobululami,
Ngaikombolelwe inyika yeZimbabwe.
Tswana lyrics
I
O tsholeletsang godimo, folaga ya rona ya Zimbabwe
Ee tshotshweng ke ntwa ya kgololesego
Le madi ya megaka ya rona
Re le tshireletse mo go baba ba rona
Ka le segofatswe le fatshe la Zimbabwe
II
Bonang Zimbabwe ee kgabisetsweng
Ka di thaba le dinoka tse di ntle
Pula a ine le masimo a nnc le di dipoelo
Botlhe bas a tlhtoke dijo le babereki ba duelwe
Ka le segofatswe le fatshe la Zimbabwe
III
Modimo, segofatsa le fatshe la Zimbabwe
Le fatshe boswa jwa rona
Go tswa Zambezi go ya Limpopo
A baeteledipele ba rona ba ne le maotsholo a bone a a eletsegang
Ka le segofatswe le fatshe la Zimbabwe
Tonga lyrics
I
Amunyampule Ndembela
Yesu yaZimbabwe
Yakazyalwa aNkondo yaLwaangunuko
Abulowa bunji bwabasilumamba
Tuyitabilile kuli basinkondoma
Ngayilongezegwe nyika yaZimbabwe
II
Amulange Zimbabwe
Yo iidobeekedwe
Amalundu Amilonga iiyebeka
Mvula ngayiwe zilimwa zivule
Babeleki Bajane, Abantu Bakkute
Ngayilongezegwe Nyika yaZimbabwe
III
Mwami longezya nyika
Yesu yaZimbabwe
Nyika yabaMataata besu Iswe Toonse
Kuzwa kuli Zambezi kuya kuli Limpopo
Bazulwidi Babe chitondeezyo
Ngayilongezegwe Nyika yaZimbabwe
English Lyrics
1. O lift high the banner, the flag of Zimbabwe,
The symbol of freedom proclaiming victory;
We praise our heroes’ sacrifice,
And vow to keep our land from foes;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.
2. O lovely Zimbabwe, so wondrously adorned
With mountains, and rivers cascading, flowing free;
May rain abound, and fertile fields;
May we be fed, our labour blessed;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.
3. O God, we beseech Thee to bless our native land;
The land of our fathers bestowed upon us all;
From Zambezi to Limpopo
May leaders be exemplary;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.
Lyric videos of Zimbabwe National Anthem
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