National Anthem of Zimbabwe
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2013) |
English: "O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe" | |
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![]() Official sheet music, as printed in the Constitution of Zimbabwe | |
National anthem of ![]() | |
Also known as | Shona: "Simudzai mureza we Zimbabwe" Northern Ndebele: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" |
Lyrics | Solomon Mutswairo, 1993 |
Music | Fred Changundega, 1993 |
Adopted | March 1994 |
Preceded by | "Ishe Komborera Africa" |
Audio sample | |
"Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe" (instrumental) |
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.
History
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.
Lyrics
National anthems of Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Because Zimbabwe has several official languages, the lyrics of the song have been translated into the three main national languages: Shona, Ndebele and English, and may be sung interchangeably with each of the three languages bearing equal weight in law.
Shona lyrics | Ndebele lyrics | English lyrics |
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First verse | ||
Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe |
Phakamisan' if'legi yethu yeZimbabwe |
O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe; |
Second verse | ||
Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa |
Khangelan' iZimbabwe yon' ihlotshisiwe |
Behold Zimbabwe so richly adorned |
Third verse | ||
Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe |
Nkosi busis' ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe |
O God, bless the land of Zimbabwe, |
See also
References
- The Zimbabwe National Anthem: Shona, Ndebele and English, © Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, 1993
- National Anthem of Zimbabwe Act, 1995 (Chapter 10:15)