The national anthem of Cape Verde is "Cântico da Liberdade", which translates to "Chant of Liberty" in English. It was officially adopted in 1996, replacing "Esta É a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada" ("This Is Our Well Beloved Motherland"), which was also the national anthem of Guinea-Bissau. The two countries share a legacy of joint independence, which is why "Esta É a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada" was also the anthem of Cape Verde until 1996
Adalberto Higino Tavares Silva composed the music for "Cântico da Liberdade", and Amílcar Spencer Lopes wrote the lyrics. The anthem is played at the beginning and end of public events when the head of state is present, as well as during national parties and the openings and closings of radio and television broadcasts.
"Chant de Ralliement" ("The Rallying Song"), also known as "Ô Cameroun berceau de nos ancêtres" ("O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers") is the national anthem of Cameroon and former national anthem of French Cameroon.
The song was composed in 1928 by René Djam Afame , who also wrote the lyrics along with Samuel Minkio Bamba and Moïse Nyatte Nko'o, all while they were students at the École Normale of Foulassi. It was used on an unofficial basis in French Cameroon beginning in 1948 before independence and officially adopted as the anthem of the territory in 1957. In 1960, the anthem was officially adopted by the new Republic of Cameroon.
In 1961, upon the accession of the former British Southern Cameroons to the Republic of Cameroon, an English version was written by Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, which was later officially adopted in 1978. In 1970, the French lyrics were changed to remove some words such as barbarie ("barbarianism") and sauvagerie ("savagery"), reference to France and the United Kingdom.
"La Renaissance" is the national anthem of the Central African Republic. It was adopted on 25 May 1960, shortly before the republic's independence on 13 August the same year. The words were written by then Prime Minister Barthélémy Boganda. The music was composed by French composer Herbert Pepper, who also composed the national anthem of Senegal, "Le Lion rouge".The song was also the national anthem during the Central African Empire (1976–1979).
The anthem has official lyrics in both French and the national language of Sango.
The anthem was written, following a competition, by Jesuit father Louis Gidrol and his student group from the Saint Paul Boarding School in Fort-Archambault (the current city of Sarh). The music was composed by another Jesuit father, Paul Villard. It was adopted as the official state anthem of Chad upon gaining independence from France in January 1960.
"La Tchadienne" (English: "Song of the Chadian", lit. '"The Chadian (Song)"') is the national anthem of Chad. Written by Louis Gidrol and his student group and composed by Paul Villard, it has been the official state anthem of Chad since it gained independence from France in January 1960.
In 1981, Ciskei was proclaimed by the apartheid-era South Africa as an “independent black homeland” (in actuality, an area set up to reduce the black population of South Africa by giving them citizenship in this new area.) Not internationally recognized, Ciskei was re-incorporated into South Africa when the apartheid system was abolished in 1994.
As a separate “nation”, Ciskei adopted the popular southern African song “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” as its official national anthem. This song, which was considered an anthem against apartheid, was also written in the Xhosa language that was also spoken in Ciskei. There is also no standard version or translation for “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”, it may vary from place to place and occasion to occasion, and I believe no official version was adopted in Ciskei; the lyrics presented here are the most common modern lyrics.
"La Congolaise" (English: "The Congolese", Kongo: "Besi Kôngo") is the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo. It was adopted upon independence from France in 1959, replaced in 1969 by "Les Trois Glorieuses" but reinstated in 1991. The lyrics were written by Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi, and the music was composed by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.
"La Congolaise" (English: "The Congolese", Kongo: "Besi Kôngo") is the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo. It was adopted upon independence from France in 1959, replaced in 1969 by "Les Trois Glorieuses" but reinstated in 1991. The lyrics were written by Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi, and the music was composed by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.
"Debout Congolais" (Kongo: Telama besi Kongo; "Arise, Congolese") is the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was originally adopted in 1960 upon independence from Belgium but was replaced by "La Zaïroise" when the Congo changed its name to Zaire in 1971. It was finally reinstated when the Congo was reorganised in 1997. The lyrics were written by historian and professor Joseph Lutumba, and the music was composed by Jesuit father Simon-Pierre Boka di Mpasi Londi who also wrote and composed "La Zaïroise
"Debout Congolais" (Kongo: Telama besi Kongo; "Arise, Congolese") is the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was originally adopted in 1960 upon independence from Belgium but was replaced by "La Zaïroise" when the Congo changed its name to Zaire in 1971. It was finally reinstated when the Congo was reorganised in 1997. The lyrics were written by historian and professor Joseph Lutumba, and the music was composed by Jesuit father Simon-Pierre Boka di Mpasi Londi who also wrote and composed "La Zaïroise
"Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (also written "Ouzima wa Massiwa", Comorian for "The Union of the Great Islands"; also known as "Umodja wa Massiwa", sometimes written "Masiwa") is the national anthem of the Comoros. Adopted in 1978, it was written by Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane, who also composed the music with Kamildine Abdallah.
Mayotte (claimed by the Comoros but under French administration) is also mentioned in the song.
Having achieved independence in 1975, Comoros’ current anthem was adopted in 1978 after a change in power due to a coup. Both the current and former anthems mention the four islands in the Comoros, however, only three are internationally recognized as part of the Comoros, France still retains control over Mayotte (known as Maori (or Maoré) in the anthem).
"L'Abidjanaise" (English: "The Song of Abidjan") is the national anthem of Côte d'Ivoire, adopted under law number 60–207 on 27 July 1960. It takes the form of a lyric and very patriotic poem, invoking inspiring imagery expressing the greatness of the Ivorian soil and values such as hope, peace, dignity, and the "true brotherhood.
"L'Abidjanaise" (English: "The Song of Abidjan") is the national anthem of Côte d'Ivoire, adopted under law number 60–207 on 27 July 1960. It takes the form of a lyric and very patriotic poem, invoking inspiring imagery expressing the greatness of the Ivorian soil and values such as hope, peace, dignity, and the "true brotherhood".
"We arise with strength! for we have raised our flag" - "Djibouti" is the national anthem of Djibouti. Adopted upon independence from France in 1977, the lyrics, which are in Somali, were written by Aden Elmi, while the melody was composed by Abdi Robleh.
The anthem was first officially played at an independence ceremony on 27 June 1977.
The melody is written in common 4/4 time. It consists of twenty measures.
Between 2007 and 2009, under the leadership of Laurent Gbagbo, there was a proposal to replace "L'Abidjanaise" with a different song, "L'Ode à la Patrie" as the national anthem. This Ode was composed in 2002 after the start of the Ivorian civil war, and was selected by contest in 2003. "Ode à la Patrie" was sung by supporters of the now former head of state and broadcast on the RTI's television network instead of "L'Abidjanaise" until 2007, even though the latter remained, according to the constitution, the country's national anthem. However, the proposal was eventually dropped.
"Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea" (Tigrinya: ኤርትራ ኤርትራ ኤርትራ, romanized: Ertra, Ertra, Ertra, Tigrinya pronunciation: [ʔer(ɨ).tra ʔer(ɨ).tra ʔer(ɨ).tra]) is the national anthem of Eritrea.
Eswatini for Brass Quintet
Eswatini for Brass Quintet
"Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" is the national anthem of Eswatini. It is a compromise between Swazi and Western styles of music and was adopted after independence in 1968. The lyrics were authored by Andrease Enoke Fanyana Kukies Simelane, and the composer of the tune was David Kenneth Rycrof.
Eswatini for String Orchestra
Eswatini for String Orchestra
The national anthem, adopted in 1968 on independence (when the nation was known as Swaziland), was composed after extensive ethno-musicological fieldwork in Eswatini. The national anthem was a compromise between Swazi and western styles of music. Swazi music stresses on songs with inticrate polyphony, which is evident in the anthem, making this anthem one of the best examples of the “Eastern folk” style of anthem.
Used since independence, the music of the anthem was composed by a Spanish lieutenant and the deputy director of music at the army headquarters in Madrid (the capital of the former colonial power).
"Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea" (Tigrinya: ኤርትራ ኤርትራ ኤርትራ, romanized: Ertra, Ertra, Ertra, Tigrinya pronunciation: [ʔer(ɨ).tra ʔer(ɨ).tra ʔer(ɨ).tra]) is the national anthem of Eritrea.
The anthem was written by musician and writer Atanasio Ndongo Miyone. The lyrics were influenced by the end of Equatorial Guinea's colonisation, with anti-colonisation being a main theme. The music was composed by Ramiro Sánchez López, who was a Spanish lieutenant and the deputy director of music at the army headquarters located in Madrid. He received a prize of 25,000 pesetas for composing the music.
The anthem was first performed on Equatorial Guinea's independence day, 12 October 1968.
On 18 June 2021, the General Director of Sports of Equatorial Guinea, Rodolfo Bodipo Diaz, announced that it was now mandatory to play the national anthem before all sporting events. The decision was made to "encourage and promote national pride and patriotic spirit from the base", referring to the youth.
"Ethiopia, Be Happy" (Amharic: ኢትዮጵያ ሆይ ደስ ይበልሽ, romanized: Ityoṗya hoy des ybelish) was the national anthem of the Ethiopian Empire during the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Composed by Kevork Nalbandian in 1926, the anthem was first performed during the coronation of the Emperor on 2 November 1930. It remained the national anthem until the Emperor was overthrown by the Derg regime in 1974 and was relinquished the next year.
After the communist government was replaced in 1992, the current anthem was adopted. The General Provision to the Ethiopian Constitution says that the anthem “shall reflect the ideals of the Constitution, the Commitment of the Peoples of Ethiopia to live together in a democratic order and of their common destiny.
"Bilâdy, Laki ḥobbi wa fuâdy" (Arabic: بلادي لك حبي وفؤادي; "My homeland, you have my love and my heart"), also known by its incipit, "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (بلادي بلادي بلادي), is the national anthem of Egypt, composed by Sayed Darwish and written by Mohamed Yunis El Qadi. It was adopted in 1979.
The lyrics were written by Mohamed Younis El Qady. Sayed Darwish composed the music and maintained close ties with early leaders of the national movement for independence in Egypt, such as Mustafa Kamel. The chorus derived from one of Kamel's most famous Egyptian nationalist speeches.
Egypt's first national anthem dates back to 1869 when a royal anthem was composed to honor the monarch. It is unclear how long this anthem was in use. Although the monarchy was deposed in 1952, the anthem was used as part of the anthem of the United Arab Republic with Syria in 1958.
"Bilâdy, Laki ḥobbi wa fuâdy" (Arabic: بلادي لك حبي وفؤادي; "My homeland, you have my love and my heart"), also known by its incipit, "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (بلادي بلادي بلادي), is the national anthem of Egypt, composed by Sayed Darwish and written by Mohamed Yunis El Qadi. It was adopted in 1979.
The lyrics were written by Mohamed Younis El Qady. Sayed Darwish composed the music and maintained close ties with early leaders of the national movement for independence in Egypt, such as Mustafa Kamel. The chorus derived from one of Kamel's most famous Egyptian nationalist speeches.
Egypt's first national anthem dates back to 1869 when a royal anthem was composed to honor the monarch. It is unclear how long this anthem was in use. Although the monarchy was deposed in 1952, the anthem was used as part of the anthem of the United Arab Republic with Syria in 1958.