NATIONAL ANTHEM COMPOSER PASSES ON AT 90

MANZINI – The composer of the country’s national anthem, Andreas Simelane has passed away. He passed away at the age of 90 after a three-year battle with cancer. The former chairman of the Civil Service Commission died at his daughter’s home at Ngwange Park, Manzini on Saturday, where he was being cared for. His daughter, Gabsile, shared that her father, who would have turned 91 next month, was admitted to hospital last Sunday.

Palliative

When medical practitioners determined they could no longer offer curative treatment, the family chose to bring him home for palliative care. Simelane’s death follows repeated attempts to meet with national authorities. While he and his family had previously been granted an audience with the current prime minister (PM), his desire to meet with the King before his passing was reportedly never fulfilled.  A source close to the family indicated that this unfulfilled wish weighed heavily on Simelane’s heart. Following the news of his death, some have expressed concern that Simelane was neglected by government, arguing that he should have been recognised and supported as a national treasure.

His contributions to the country’s cultural heritage, particularly through the composition of the national anthem, are being widely celebrated and remembered. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. In an interview with this publication in April last year, Simelane expressed his desire to meet with the authorities.  He had repeatedly reminded his children of this wish, stating he had much to share with His Majesty the King and the head of government, including matters pertaining to his welfare. “My life is withering and I fear that I will die before seeing the King and the premier.

I would have gone to the King and the premier, had it not been for my deteriorating health,” he said at the time.He also shared that he dreamt of himself in another world, a matter that worried his children. He reiterated his acceptance of the next world, stating he had endured enough pain due to his illness. Some residents expressed surprise that they lived near the man who wrote the national anthem, noting his quiet demeanour. Simelane recounted how he came to write the anthem, explaining that he entered a competition after Eswatini was promised independence in 1967.  

Writers

He submitted four entries, registered in the names of his now-deceased wife, Flora Nomsa Simelane, and his daughters, Gabsile and Delisile.  “I qualified together with my wife, after the song writers were shortlisted. We were taken by surprise when we learnt through a newspaper known as Izwi LamaSwazi, that we had won. The results were also announced through a magazine of the time,” he said. He explained that his wife, who was also a teacher, had no interest in writing, so he wrote the entries on her behalf. 

The national anthem was never edited before the second phase, where emaSwati were invited to create the musical arrangement. Simelane, a former head teacher, musician, pastor and Bible interpreter, did not participate in composing the tune. He explained that the song was born out of a sense of duty to thank God for His blessing upon emaSwati, particularly for blessing the nation with the King. He felt it was important to seek God’s blessing for Their Majesties and those in authority, and to ask God to strengthen the nation.“I was cautious in my composition, because we were warned against duplicating the African Continent National anthem ‘Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika’. We were urged to compose something different from the continental song,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: