I enjoyed reading David Honigmann’s piece on “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (Life of a Song, FT Weekend, March 11).
I still have a seven-inch 45rpm vinyl record from 1974 which features a choir of the Zambian cabinet and the party central committee singing the Zambian national anthem to celebrate 10 years of Zambian independence.
The singing is led by the president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda (KK, as he was fondly known). The national anthem is of course Zambia’s own version of this stirring song, and I believe that it is still their national anthem.
On the reverse side of this record the choir sings “Tiyende Pamodzi”, which was KK’s own favourite song when he was campaigning for Zambian independence, and which became in effect the country’s second national anthem. I echo Honigmann’s concluding wish: God bless Africa.
David Shipp
Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK
