Zambia National Anthem: Difference between revisions

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== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Enoch Sontonga.jpg|150px|thumbnail|left|Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika]]
[[File:Enoch Sontonga.jpg|150px|thumbnail|left|Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika]]
''Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'' started to become popular in South Africa in 1923 as a Christian hymn. Its popularity spread around Africa through churches and the tune became associated with African nationalism movements. Following the passing of the [[Zambia Independence Act 1964]] in the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacting Zambia's independence from the United Kingdom, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was adopted as the national anthem of Zambia,<ref name=zam>[http://www.zambezitraveller.com/livingstone/history/zambia%E2%80%99s-national-anthem-history Zambia's national anthem: a history, Zambezi Traveller, 26 June 2013]</ref> replacing ''God Save the Queen'', the anthem of [[Northern Rhodesia]]. Shortly afterwards, it was decided that new words set to the tune of ''Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'' would be needed for Zambia's national anthem. A national competition was held for the new words. However, none of the entries were deemed good enough to be used in full for the anthem. As a result, six of the entries were merged to create "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" and the entrants selected were awarded prizes. The authors credited for the composition were G Ellis, E.S. Musonda, J.M.S. Lichilana, I Lowe, J Sajiwandani and R.J. Seal.<ref name=zam />
''Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'' started to become popular in South Africa in 1923 as a Christian hymn. Its popularity spread around Africa through churches and the tune became associated with African nationalism movements. Following the passing of the [[Zambia Independence Act 1964]] in the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacting Zambia's independence from the United Kingdom, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was adopted as the national anthem of Zambia,<ref name=zam>[http://www.zambezitraveller.com/livingstone/history/zambia%E2%80%99s-national-anthem-history Zambia's national anthem: a history, Zambezi Traveller, 26 June 2013]</ref> replacing ''God Save the Queen'', the anthem of [[Northern Rhodesia]]. Shortly afterwards, it was decided that new words set to the tune of ''Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'' would be needed for Zambia's national anthem. A national competition was held for the new words. However, none of the entries were deemed good enough to be used in full for the anthem. As a result, six of the entries were merged to create "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" and the entrants selected were awarded prizes. The authors credited for the composition were G Ellis, E.S. Musonda, J.M.S. Lichilana, I Lowe, J Sajiwandani and R.J. Seal of Lusaka<ref name=zam />


In 1973, the [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]] passed the National Anthem Act, which legally defined the English lyrics of "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" as the national anthem of Zambia. The Act also made it an offence to "insult or bring into contempt or ridicule" the anthem and granted the [[President of Zambia]] the rights to prescribe how the anthem is sung and to restrict its use.<ref>[http://www.zamlii.org/zm/legislation/consolidated-act/7 National Anthem Act, Cap 7, Zambia Legal Information Institute, 14 September 1973]</ref>
In 1973, the [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]] passed the National Anthem Act, which legally defined the English lyrics of "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" as the national anthem of Zambia. The Act also made it an offence to "insult or bring into contempt or ridicule" the anthem and granted the [[President of Zambia]] the rights to prescribe how the anthem is sung and to restrict its use.<ref>[http://www.zamlii.org/zm/legislation/consolidated-act/7 National Anthem Act, Cap 7, Zambia Legal Information Institute, 14 September 1973]</ref>