Final answer:
The South African national anthem, a combination of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and "The Call of South Africa," reflects the country's multicultural identity and democratic values. "Shosholoza" complements the anthem as a symbol of freedom and unity. The adoption of a new flag and eleven official languages marked a symbolic transformation towards an inclusive “rainbow nation.”
Step-by-step explanation:
South Africa's National Anthem and Its Symbolic Transformation
The national anthem of South Africa is a profound reflection of the country's journey towards unity and democracy. Adopted in 1994, the anthem is a combination of two songs, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and "The Call of South Africa." These songs unite five of the nation's eleven languages and symbolize the blending of various cultural elements within South Africa. The unique qualities of the anthem include a change in melodic key and the incorporation of languages such as Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English, which contributes to its international recognition. In particular, the national anthem was awarded The Economist's Best National Anthem in the World in 2017.
Apart from the national anthem, "Shosholoza" serves as an unofficial second anthem capturing the spirit of freedom from oppression. Its lyrics mix Zulu and Ndebele languages, and it is often performed in a call-and-response style at various national events. This song, too, exemplifies South Africa's cultural richness and its unwavering spirit of Ubuntu, which translates to togetherness.
The adoption of the national anthem occurred alongside the introduction of a new national flag symbolizing democracy and equality. The flag's design starts with two pathways that merge into a single V shape, representing the merging of different paths to form a unified nation known as the rainbow nation. This period of change also included the recognition of freedom of religion and the establishment of eleven official languages, which comprise the diverse cultural fabric of South Africa.