"Mungu ibariki Afrika" was translated and became the state anthem of
Tanganyika. It was essentially assigned to
Enoch Sontonga, who died in 1905. "Mungu ibariki Afrika" used the tune to "
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" with a Swahili translation of the words. It is not known who composed the lyrics, but it is known that it was
Samuel Mqhayi and Enoch Sontonga who created the early versions used by the
African National Congress.
Swahili translation It was first performed in Swahili at a ceremony on 8 December 1961 following the independence of Tanganyika from the
British Empire. "Mungu ibariki Afrika" was composed to replace the British national anthem, "
God Save the Queen", as the national anthem of Tanganyika. This made Tanganyika the first African nation to adopt the tune of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" as its national anthem. In 1964, Tanganyika formed a union with
Zanzibar, which created the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (later renamed to Tanzania). The newly united country adopted "Mungu ibariki Afrika" as its national anthem instead of Zanzibar's anthem. "Mungu ibariki Afrika" is also used as a hymn requesting Tanzania remain united and independent. Tanganyika, and later Tanzania, had concerns about religious unrest between
Christians and Muslims after independence. This was because of Christian references in government proceedings and official oaths. The wording of "Mungu ibariki Afrika" was intended to help offset this by being inclusive of the different religious views. "Mungu ibariki Afrika" is sung daily at Tanzanian schools. A circular issued in 1998 by the nation's
Commissioner of Education recommended the singing of the national anthem as a way to promote
patriotism in Tanzania's youth. In 2007, a legal issue arose over the anthem, after students who were members of the
Jehovah's Witnesses refused to sing the song at their primary and secondary schools in
Mbozi District,
Mbeya Region. Five students were expelled from school, and 122 others received other forms of discipline for their refusal. On 2 December 2010, the
High Court of Tanzania ruled that the schools' disciplinary actions were appropriate. The
Court of Appeal of Tanzania overturned that ruling on 12 July 2013, indicating that the disciplinary action taken by the school was unlawful and stating that there was no obligation to sing the national anthem in Tanzanian law. ==Lyrics==