Enoch Sontonga

Enoch Mankayi Sontonga
Background information
Born	1873 Uitenhage, Cape Colony
Died	18 April 1905(1905-04-18) (aged 32) Johannesburg, Transvaal Colony
Occupation(s)	Music composer, Teacher, Choirmaster, Poet

[[:File:"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" performed at the White House in 1994.oga|"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (instrumental)]]

Sontonga's "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", performed by a US military band

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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" (English: "God Bless Africa"), 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.