Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
Work in Music History
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika has come up in 1 episode across 1 podcast in TMT, including The Rest Is History. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Dominic SandbrookBritish historian, author and co-host of The Rest Is History
Sandbrook says no other anthem covered in the series has a past so laden with suffering and martyrdom.
“none whose past is so kind of freighted with suffering and martyrdom and stuff”
The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 58:40
Tom HollandEnglish actor cast as Telemachus
Holland observes that the ANC anthem is notably non-violent in content, unlike many national anthems.
“there's nothing martial, there's nothing aggressive, there's nothing militant about the lyrics of Nkosi Sikilele Afrika at all”
The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 42:48
Podcasts
- The Rest Is History · 1 episode
Episodes
682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6)The Rest Is History · Jun 24, 2026 · 1 h 11 min
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook trace South Africa's anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, the fall of apartheid, and Nelson Mandela's use of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.