This week’s national anthem is “La Congolaise” which is the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo.
It was adopted in 1959 after the country’s independence from France, it was replaced in 1969 by “Les Trois Glorieuses” only to be reinstated in 1991. The lyrics were written by Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi, and the music was composed by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.
I En ce jour le soleil se lève Et notre Congo resplendit. Une longue nuit s’achève, Un grand bonheur a surgi. Chantons tous avec ivresse Le chant de la liberté.
Refrain : Congolais, debout fièrement partout, Proclamons l’union de notre nation, Oublions ce qui nous divise, Soyons plus unis que jamais, Vivons pour notre devise: Unité, travail, progrès, Vivons pour notre devise: Unité, travail, progrès!
II Des forêts jusqu’à la savanne, Des savannes jusqu’à la mer, Un seul peuple, une seule âme, Un seul cœur, ardent et fier, Luttons tous, tant que nous sommes, Pour notre vieux pays noir.
Refrain
III Et s’il nous faut mourir, en somme Qu’importe puisque nos enfants, Partout, pourront dire comme On triomphe en combattant, Et dans le moindre village Chantent sous nos trois couleurs.
Refrain
I On this day the sun rises And our Congo stands resplendent. A long night is ended, A great happiness has come. Let us all, with wild joyfulness, sing The song of freedom.
Chorus: Arise, Congolese, proud every man, Proclaim the unity of our nation. Let us forget what divides us And become more united than ever. Let us live our motto: Unity, work, progress. Let us live our motto: Unity, work, progress!
II From the forest to the savannah, From the savannah to the sea, One people, one soul, One heart, ardent and proud. Let us all fight, every one of us, For our black country.
Chorus
III And if we have to die, What does it really matter? Our children Everywhere will be able to say how Triumph comes through battle, And in the smallest village Sing beneath our three colours Chorus
This week we are looking at the national anthem of France, which is “La Marseillaise”
It was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by the First French Republic against Austria and was originally titled “Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin”, (“War Song for the Rhine Army”)
It was formally recognized as the French National Anthem in 1879, and it hasn’t been changed since.
The song has been a subject of debate since the start and has in fact been banned a number of times.
It was banned by Napoleon in 1804 till 1815
It was also banned in 1815 by King Louis XVIII, it was reinstated in 1830.
Only to be banned again during the rule of Napoleon III between 1852-1870 and reinstated again in 1879.
In 1887, an “official version” was adopted by France’s Ministry of War.
After WWII, the Ministry of Education encouraged school children to sing the anthem to “celebrate our liberation and our martyrs.”
It was declared the official national anthem in Article 2 of the 1946 and 1958 constitutions.
It is taught and sung in French schools. However, the song’s lyrics have been controversial, with some questioning whether it is appropriate to teach children the violent imagery in the song.
Verse 1: Allons enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L’étendard sanglant est levé ! (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes, Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes!
Verse 1: Let’s go children of the fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny’s Bloody flag is raised! (repeat) In the countryside, do you hear The roaring of these fierce soldiers? They come right to our arms To slit the throats of our sons, our friends!
Refrain:Aux armes, citoyens ! Formez vos bataillons ! Marchons ! Marchons ! Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons !
Refrain: Grab your weapons, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields!
Verse 2: Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) Français ! pour nous, ah ! quel outrage ! Quels transports il doit exciter ! C’est nous qu’on ose méditer De rendre à l’antique esclavage !
Verse 2: This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings, What do they want? For whom these vile shackles, These long-prepared irons? (repeat) Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult! What emotions that must excite! It is us that they dare to consider Returning to ancient slavery!
Verse 3: Quoi ! ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis) Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploiraient ! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées !
Verse 3: What! These foreign troops Would make laws in our home! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would bring down our proud warriors! (repeat) Good Lord! By chained hands Our brows would bend beneath the yoke! Vile despots would become The masters of our fate!
Verse 4: Tremblez, tyrans ! et vous, perfides, L’opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leur prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre !
Verse 4: Tremble, tyrants! and you, traitors, The disgrace of all groups, Tremble! Your parricidal plans Will finally pay the price! (repeat) Everyone is a soldier to fight you, If they fall, our young heros, France will make more, Ready to battle you!
Verse 5: Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, A regret s’armant contre nous. (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère !
Verse 5: Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors, Bear or hold back your blows! Spare these sad victims, Regretfully arming against us. (repeat) But not these bloodthirsty despots, But not these accomplices of Bouillé, All of these animals who, without pity, Tear their mother’s breast to pieces!
Verse 6: Amour sacré de la patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs ! Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents ! Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !
Verse 6: Sacred love of France, Lead, support our avenging arms! Liberty, beloved Liberty, Fight with your defenders! (repeat) Under our flags, let victory Hasten to your manly tones! May your dying enemies See your triumph and our glory!
Verse 7: Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus ; Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre !
Verse 7: We will enter the pit When our elders are no longer there; There, we will find their dust And the traces of their virtues. (repeat) Much less eager to outlive them Than to share their casket, We will have the sublime pride Of avenging them or following them!
Jo-AnneRamplings 