Die Stem van Suid-Afrika
Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans: [di ˈstɛm fan sœit ˈɑːfrika], lit. 'The Voice of South Africa'), also known as "The Call of South Africa" or simply "Die Stem" (Afrikaans: [di ˈstɛm]), 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.
| English: "The Call of South Africa" | |
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Excerpt of "Die Stem" from the F.A.K.-Volksangbundel | |
Former national anthem of South Africa | |
| Also known as | "Die Stem" (English: "The Voice") |
| Lyrics | Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, 1918 (English version: Collectively, 1952) |
| Music | Marthinus Lourens de Villiers, 1921 |
| Published | 1926 |
| Adopted | 3 June 1938 (jointly with "God Save the King/Queen") 2 May 1957 (as the sole national anthem) 10 May 1994 (jointly with "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika") |
| Relinquished | 10 May 1994 (as the sole national anthem) 10 October 1997 (as the co-national anthem) |
| Preceded by | "God Save the Queen" |
| Succeeded by | "National anthem of South Africa" |
| Audio sample | |
"Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (instrumental, mid-20th century recording)
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