Why does the South African national anthem say bless Africa yet it is a South African national anthem?

Question

When Enoch Sontonga the man that wrote the first stanzas of the South African national anthem the anthem was calling the blessing of Africa.Why bless Africa not South Africa specifically?Did South African at that time view themselves as citizens of Africa as opposed to just South Africa.

Answer 1

South Africa sees itself as a small portion of the larger continent. It helps to place the nation into perspective with the world.

Answer 2

Sontonga composed Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in 1897, before there was a South Africa. At that time, the area that is now South Africa was mainly two Boer republics (Transvaal, also called Republiek van Suid-Afrika, and Oranje Vrystaat) and two English colonies (Cape of Good Hope - also called Cape Colony, and Natal).

Sandwiched between OFS and Cape was the Sotho kingdom, I believe under King Moshweshwe II at the time. It barely staved off incorporation into the colonies and republics.

From 1899 to 1902, the Boers and the British fought each other for control, and the 1902 Sand River Convention and 1910 Union Act created the Union of South Africa, with dominion over the two republics and two colonies, and some additional lands besides, which are no longer included in South Africa.

The Xhosa nation, in which Sontonga lived, was situated mainly in the Cape Colony, and bordered the OFS and Natal, at a time when the only "South Africa" was a Boer Republic generally referred to as Transvaal instead.

Answer 3

i'm particularly chop up in 2. What they did with the nationwide anthem grow to be great and a stable flow to avert anger on the two factors of the fence. yet there'll come a time the place we'd opt to re-seem on the present one and get an anthem representing all South Africans. A shorter anthem is mandatory i think of. particular i understand the words of the anthem.

Answer 4

Same idea as God Bless America when the USA takes up only a small part of the contenent.