La Concorde

"La Concorde" is the national anthem of Gabon. Written and composed by politician Georges Aleka Damas, it was adopted upon independence in 1960.[1]

This article is about the anthem of Gabon. For the French slave ship, see Queen Anne's Revenge.
La Concorde
English: The Concorde
National anthem of Gabon
LyricsGeorges Aleka Damas, 1960
MusicGeorges Aleka Damas, 1960
Adopted1960
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (chorus and one verse)
  • file
  • help

History

In a speech in Port-Gentil on 15 March 1962, President Léon M'ba stated his intention to have the national anthem translated into the various Gabonese dialects "so that in the remotest village in the country everyone will be able to understand its meaning."[2]

Lyrics
French lyrics[1] English translation

Refrain :
Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
𝄆 C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité. 𝄇

I
Éblouissant et fier, le jour sublime monte
Pourchassant à jamais l'injustice et la honte.
Qu'il monte, monte encore et calme nos alarmes,
Qu'il prône la vertu et repousse les armes.

Refrain

II
Oui que le temps heureux rêvé par nos ancêtres
Arrive enfin chez nous, réjouisse[lower-alpha 1] les êtres,
Et chasse les sorciers, ces perfides trompeurs
Qui sèment le poison et répandent la peur.[lower-alpha 2]

Refrain

III
Afin qu'aux yeux du monde et des nations amies
Le Gabon immortel reste digne d'envie,
Oublions nos querelles, ensemble bâtissons
L'édifice nouveau auquel tous nous rêvons.

Refrain

IV
Des bords de l'Océan au cœur de la forêt,
Demeurons vigilants, sans faiblesse et sans haine!
Autour de ce drapeau, qui vers l'honneur nous mène,
Saluons la Patrie et chantons sans arrêt!

Refrain

Chorus:
United in the concord and the brotherhood,
Awaken thee, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
𝄆 At last we rise up to attain happiness. 𝄇

I
Dazzling and proud, the sublime day dawns,
Dispelling for ever injustice and shame.
May it rise, rise again and calm our fears,
May it promote virtue and banish warfare.

Chorus

II
Yes, may the happy days dreamed by our ancestors
Come for us at last, rejoice our hearts,
And banish the sorcerers, those perfidious deceivers
Who sow poison and spread fear.

Chorus

III
So that, in the eyes of the world and of friendly nations,
The immortal Gabon may maintain her good repute,
Let us forget our quarrels, let us build together
The new structure of which we are all dreaming of.

Chorus

IV
From the shores of the Ocean to the heart of the forest,
Let us remain vigilant, without weakness and without hatred!
Around this flag which leads us to honour,
Let us salute the Fatherland and ever sing!

Chorus

Notes
  1. Sometimes written rejouisse.[3]
  2. Sometimes written Qui semaient le poison et répandaient la peur ("Who were sowing poison and spreading fear."), especially in older publications.[3][4][5]

References
  1. "Symboles nationaux". Présidence de la République Gabonaise. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 1962. p. I 10.
  3. Shaw, Martin (1975). National Anthems of the World. Blandford Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-7137-0679-6.
  4. Encyclopédie africaine et malgache: Centre Afrique (in French). Librairie Larousse. 1964.
  5. "Histoire". Direction Générale de la Statistique (in French). Retrieved 2022-01-20.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.