National symbols of South Africa

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Since unification in 1910, South Africa has used a range of national symbols to identify the country: coats of arms, official seals, flags, national anthems, and floral, bird, animal, and other emblems.

Contents

Coats of arms

Seals

Flags

National

Flag of South Africa since 1994 Flag of South Africa.svg
Flag of South Africa since 1994

Merchant ensign

Civil ensign

Head of state's flag

National anthem

National symbols

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National anthem of South Africa</span>

The national anthem of South Africa was adopted in 1997 and is a hybrid song combining extracts of the 19th century Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and the Afrikaans song that was used as the South African national anthem during the apartheid era, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", with new English lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Jack</span> Flag of the United Kingdom

The Union Jack or Union Flag is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Flag was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. The flag continues to have official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is known as the Royal Union Flag.

"Mungu ibariki Afrika" is the national anthem of Tanzania. It is a Swahili language version of Enoch Sontonga's popular hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of South Africa</span> National flag

The flag of South Africa was designed in March 1994 and adopted on 27 April 1994, during South Africa's 1994 general election, to replace the previous flag used from 1928–1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Ensign</span> British civil ensign

The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is the civil ensign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is one of the British ensigns, and it is used either plain or defaced with either a badge or a charge, mostly in the right half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free</span> National anthem of Zambia

"Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free" is the national anthem of Zambia. The tune is taken from the hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", which was composed by Xhosa composer Enoch Sontonga, in 1897. The lyrics were composed after Zambian independence to specifically reflect Zambia, as opposed to Sontonga's lyrics, which refer to Africa as a whole.

"Ishe Komborera Africa", also called "Ishe Komborera Zimbabwe", was the Zimbabwean national anthem from 1980 to 1994. It was the country's first national anthem after gaining independence in 1980. It is a translation of 19th-century South African schoolteacher Enoch Sontonga's popular African hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" into Zimbabwe's native Shona and Ndebele languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of South Africa</span> Representative of the monarch of South Africa

The governor-general of the Union of South Africa was the highest state official in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961. The Union of South Africa was founded as a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire in 1910 and the office of governor-general was established as the representative of the monarch. Fifty-one years later the country declared itself a republic and the historic link with the British monarchy was broken. The office of governor-general was abolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die Stem van Suid-Afrika</span> South African anthem from 1938 to 1994

Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, also known as "The Call of South Africa" or simply "Die Stem", was the national anthem of South Africa during the apartheid era. There are two versions of the song, one in English and the other in Afrikaans, which were in use early on in the Union of South Africa alongside God Save the Queen and as the sole anthem after South Africa became a republic. It was the sole national anthem from 1957 to 1994, and shared co-national anthem status with "God Save the King/Queen" from 1938 to 1957. After the end of apartheid, it was retained as a co-national anthem along with "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" until 1997, when a new hybrid song incorporating elements of both songs was adopted as the country's new national anthem, which is still in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Bermuda</span> British territorial flag

The flag of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda as a red ensign was first adopted on 4 October 1910. It is a British Red Ensign with the Union Flag in the upper left corner, and the coat of arms of Bermuda in the lower right. Prior to this like most of the British colonies at the time it adopted a blue ensign with a seal that depicted a dry dock with three sailing ships. In 1999, the flag was changed to its current form, with an enlarged coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Ensign</span> British state ensign

The Blue Ensign is a British ensign that may be used on vessels by certain authorised yacht clubs, Royal Research Ships and British merchant vessels whose master holds a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve or has otherwise been issued a warrant. Defaced versions with a badge or other emblem are also more broadly; in the United Kingdom by authorised government or private bodies; and internationally by nations or organisations previously a part of the British Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika</span> Hymn composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" is a Christian hymn originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa clergyman at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibia, Land of the Brave</span> National anthem of Namibia

"Namibia, Land of the Brave" is the national anthem of Namibia, adopted in December 1991. It was composed by Axali Doëseb, who was the director of a traditional music group from the Kalahari desert. Doëseb was chosen to compose it after winning a contest held after Namibia became independent in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoch Sontonga</span> South African Xhosa composer (c. 1873 – 1905)

Enoch Mankayi Sontonga(c. 1873 – 18 April 1905) was a South African composer, who is best known for writing the Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", which, in abbreviated version, has been sung as the first half of the national anthem of South Africa since 1994. Previously, it had been the official anthem of the African National Congress since 1925. It was also adopted by South Africa's newly formed northern neighbour, Zimbabwe and translated into Shona, "Ishe Komborera Afrika" from 1980 until 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Red Ensign</span> 1910–1928 unofficial flag of the Union of South Africa

The South African Red Ensign was the civil ensign of Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1951. From 1910 to 1928, the flag was also viewed as the unofficial flag of South Africa. The design of the flag was a red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of South Africa on a white disc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star of India (flag)</span> List of flags used in India under British rule

The Star of India refers to a group of flags used during the period of the British Raj in the Indian subcontinent. India had a range of flags for different purposes during its existence. The Princely states had their own flags which were to be flown alongside the British flag as a symbol of suzerainty. The official state flag for use on land was the Union Flag of the United Kingdom and it was this flag that was lowered on Independence Day in 1947. The flag of the governor-general of India was defaced with the Star of India. The civil ensign and naval ensign were the Red Ensign or Blue Ensign, respectively, defaced with the Star of India emblem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Natal</span>

The coat of arms of Natal was the official heraldic symbol of Natal as a British colony from 1907 to 1910, and as a province of South Africa from 1910 to 1994. It is now obsolete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of South Africa (1928–1994)</span> South African flag from 1928 to 1994

The flag of South Africa from 1928 to 1994 was the flag of the Union of South Africa from 1928 to 1961 and later the flag of the Republic of South Africa until 1994. It was also the flag of South West Africa to 1990, when that territory was under South African administration. Based on the Dutch Prince's Flag, it contained the flag of the United Kingdom, the flag of the Orange Free State, and the flag of the South African Republic (respectively) in the centre. A nickname for the flag was Oranje, Blanje, Blou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of South Africa (1910–2000)</span> Coat of arms from 1910 to 2000

The first coat of arms of South Africa was granted to the Union of South Africa by King George V and later amended by the British College of Arms. It contained representation of the four provinces within the Union. The coat of arms was later retained by the Republic of South Africa after independence and for a period until after the end of apartheid, until being retired in 2000. The 1910 coat of arms was replaced in 2000 by the current coat of arms of South Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Brownell, F.G. (1993). National and Provincial Symbols
  2. Government Gazette no 21131 (28 April 2000)
  3. 1 2 Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act 1934
  4. Government Gazette no 2533 (6 June 1938)
  5. Republic of South Africa Constitution Acts 1961, 1983, 1993
  6. Republic of South Africa Constitution 1996
  7. Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961
  8. 1 2 Merchant Shipping Act 1951 w.e.f. 1 January 1960
  9. Government Gazette no 18341 (10 October 1997)

Bibliography