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Where does the word "amandla" come from? It comes from Zulu amandla, and was adopted directly into English (1961).
Read the full story
Where does the word "amandla" come from? It comes from Zulu amandla, and was adopted directly into English (1961).
Amandla’s story begins in Zulu: amandla meant “power.” An everyday word for strength, shared with Xhosa amandla. It reached English by 1961 as amandla. Used in the call-and-response 'Amandla! Awethu!', 'Power! It is ours!', at anti-apartheid rallies. Today, amandla means a rallying cry meaning "power," associated with the South African anti-apartheid movement.
- Stage 1 · Zulu · 1800s amandla "power", an everyday word for strength, shared with Xhosa amandla.
- Stage 2 · English · 1961 amandla "power! (a rallying cry)", used in the call-and-response 'Amandla! Awethu!', 'Power! It is ours!', at anti-apartheid rallies.