Mungu ibariki Afrika: Tanzania National Anthem. “Mungu ibariki Afrika“, meaning “God Bless Africa“, is the national anthem of Tanzania. Its lyrics are based on “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” written and composed by Enoch Sontonga. A group of people translated the original Xhosa lyrics into Swahili, and it is known that Samuel Mqhayi and Enoch Sontonga created the early versions used by the African National Congress. It is thought by some that the tune was originally written by Joseph Parry.
“Mungu ibariki Afrika” was translated and became the state anthem of Tanganyika. It was essentially assigned to Enoch Sontonga, who died in 1905. “Mungu ibariki Afrika” used the tune to “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” with a Swahili translation of the words. It is not known who composed the lyrics, but it is known that it was Samuel Mqhayi and Enoch Sontonga who created the early versions used by the African National Congress.[2] Although the tune has been assigned to Sontonga, it is thought by some that the tune was originally written by Welsh composer Joseph Parry.
Also known as | Mungu ibariki Tanzania (English: God Bless Tanzania) |
---|---|
Lyrics | Collectively |
Music | Enoch Sontonga, 1897 |
Adopted | 1961; 61 years ago |
Lyrics
Swahili original
I
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Wabariki Viongozi wake
Hekima Umoja na Amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.
Kiitikio ya kwanza:
Ibariki Afrika, Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.
II
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na Umoja
Wake kwa Waume na Watoto
Mungu Ibariki
Tanzania na watu wake.
Kiitikio ya pili:
Ibariki Tanzania, Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.
IPA transcription – Mungu ibariki Afrika: Tanzania National Anthem
1
[mu.ᵑɡu i.ɓɑ.ri.ki ɑ.fri.kɑ]
[wɑ.ɓɑ.ri.ki vi.ɔ.ᵑɡɔ.zi wɑ.kɛ]
[hɛ.ki.mɑ u.mɔ.ʄɑ nɑ ɑ.mɑ.ni]
[hi.zi ni ᵑɡɑ.ɔ zɛ.tu]
[ɑ.fri.kɑ nɑ wɑ.tu wɑ.kɛ]
[kiː.ti.ki.ɔ jɑ kwɑ.ⁿzɑ]
[i.ɓɑ.ri.ki ɑ.fri.kɑ i.ɓɑ.ri.ki ɑ.fri.kɑ]
[tu.ɓɑ.ri.ki wɑ.tɔ.tɔ wɑ ɑ.fri.kɑ]
2
[mu.ᵑɡu i.ɓɑ.ri.ki tɑ.ⁿzɑ.ni.ɑ]
[ɗu.mi.ʃɑ u.hu.ru nɑ u.mɔ.ʄɑ]
[wɑ.kɛ kwɑ wɑ.u.mɛ nɑ wɑ.tɔ.tɔ]
[mu.ᵑɡu i.ɓɑ.ri.ki]
[tɑ.ⁿzɑ.ni.ɑ nɑ wɑ.tu wɑ.kɛ]
[kiː.ti.ki.ɔ jɑ pi.li]
[i.ɓɑ.ri.ki tɑ.ⁿzɑ.ni.ɑ i.ɓɑ.ri.ki tɑ.ⁿzɑ.ni.ɑ]
[tu.ɓɑ.ri.ki wɑ.tɔ.tɔ wɑ tɑ.ⁿzɑ.ni.ɑ]
English translation
I
God bless Africa
Bless its leaders
Wisdom, unity and peace
These are our shields
Africa and its people
Chorus I:
Bless Africa, Bless Africa
Bless us, the children of Africa
II
God bless Tanzania
Grant eternal freedom and unity
To its women, men and children
God bless
Tanzania and its people
Chorus II:
Bless Tanzania, Bless Tanzania
Bless us, the children of Tanzania