Copyrighting the national anthem

Unbelieveable?

I came across this wonderful story about Mexicans around the world coming together earlier this month to celebrate 150 years of their national anthem. They hoped that it would unite a country defeated and divided, in part by the loss of half of its territory to the United States in 1848. The article goes on to describe the origin of the song which emerged out of a national contest in the same year. And the kicker:

‘The anthem itself isn’t without controversy. Mexican officials were outraged a few years back to discover that a U.S. company claimed a copyright to a version of the song.’

At the end of the article mentions: ‘Mexican officials were outraged a few years back to discover that a U.S. company claimed a copyright to a version of the song.’

Happy Heritage Day, SA. Get it down now before it costs!

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

(We got the picture off the wonderful SAHistory Online.)