THE LABOUR OF OUR HEROES PAST... PART 1; HISTORY BEHIND NIGERIA NATIONAL ANTHEM

As a British colony from 1914 to 1960, the patriotic song of Nigeria was the British National anthem “God save the Queen”. After her independence in 1960, the National Anthem became “Nigeria we hail thee”

written by Lilian Jean Williams and with music by Frances Benda, both were British expatriates.

NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE (1960 1978)

Nigeria, we hail thee, our own dear native land,

Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand,

Nigerians all are proud to serve our sovereign Motherland.

Verse 2

Our flag shall be a symbol, that truth and justice reign,

In peace or battle honoured, and this we count as gain,

To hand on to our children, a banner without stain.

Verse 3

O God of all creation, Grant this our one request,

Help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed,

And so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.

During the National civil war between 1967-1970, when Biafra tried to secede from Nigeria,” Nigeria we hail thee” was the anthem of the home country while Biafra’s anthem was “Land of the rising sun”

BIAFRA ANTHEM

LAND OF THE RISING SUN (1967 – 1970)

Land of rising sun, we love and cherish,
Beloved homeland of our brave heroes;
We must defend our lives or we shall perish,
We shall protect our hearts from all our foes;
But if the price is death for all we hold dear,
Then let us die without a shred of fear.

Hail to Biafra, consecrated nation,
O fatherland, this be our solemn pledge:
Defending thee shall be a dedication,
Spilling our blood we’ll count a privilege;
The waving standard which emboldens the free
Shall always be our flag of liberty.

We shall emerge triumphant from this ordeal,
And through the crucible unscathed we’ll pass;
When we are poised the wounds of battle to heal,

We shall remember those who died in mass;
Then shall our trumpets peal the glorious song
Of victory we scored o’er might and wrong.

Oh God, protect us from the hidden pitfall,
Guide all our movements lest we go astray;
Give us the strength to heed the humanist call:
To give and not to count the cost’ each day;
Bless those who rule to serve with resoluteness,
To make this clime a land of righteousness

After the war in which Nigeria won to stay one country, the Biafra’s anthem was no longer in use. In 1978, the National Publicity Committee organised a contest to create a new national anthem; of the manysent in, five stood out and they were words written by John A. Ilecuhukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B.A. Ogunnaike, Sotu Omoigui and P.O.Aderibigbe.These words were put together to form what is now the Arise,O compatriots The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict Elise Odiase. ”. It was adopted as National anthem of the federal republic of Nigeria in 1978.

 Pa Benedict Odiase (MON), died on June 12 2013 after a brief illness, at the age of 79.

NIGERIA NATIONAL ANTHEM (1978 TILL DATE)

Verse 1

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey

To serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith

The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain

To serve with heart and might one nation bound in freedom

Peace and unity.

Verse 2

Oh God of creation Direct our noble cause

Guide our leaders right help our youth the truth to know

In love and honesty to grow and living just and true

Great lofty heights attain to build a nation where peace

And justice shall reign.

The Pledge

I pledge to Nigeria my country

To be faithful, loyal and honest

To serve Nigeria with all my strength

To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory

So help me God.

 YORUBA LANGUAGE

Verse 1
Dide eyin ara Waka je ipe Naijiria 
K'a fife sin 'le wa ,Pel'okun at'igbagbo 
Kise awon akoni wa,ko mase ja s'asan 
K'a sin t'okan tara Ile t'ominira,at'al

aafia  So d'okan

Verse 2
Olorun Eleda To ipa ona wa 
F'ona han asaaju K'odo wa m'otito 
K'ododo at'ife po sii  K'aye won je pipe 
So won d'eni giga K'alafia oun eto le 
Joba ni 'le wa 

THE PLEDGE 
Mo se ileri fun Orile-Ede mi Naijiria, 
Lati je olododo, eniti o see f'okan tan
Ati olotito eniyan 
Lati sin in pelu gbogbo agbara mi,
Lati sa ipa mi gbogbo fun isokan re 
Ati lati gbe e ga fun iyi ati ogo re. 
Ki Olorun ran mi l'owo

 IBO LANGUAGE
Verse 1

Kulienu ndi ala-anyi 
Zaa oku Naijiria 
Je ozi n’okwukwe, n’ike, n’ihunanya
Ka mbo ndi odogwu anyi gbara 
Ghara ila n’ighi 
Je ozi na ume na obi na ike 
Na obodo nwere onwe ya, n’udo, n’idi n’out 

 Verse 2

 O Chineke nke okike
Direct anyị ọmarịcha
Eduzi gi anyị ndú nri
Nyere ndị ntorobịa anyị eziokwu mara
Na ịhụnanya na-eme ihe n'eziokwu na-eto eto
Na-ebi ndụ otú na ezi
Great elu elu nweta
Na-ewu a mba ebe udo
Na ikpe ziri ezi ga-eze.
 

PLEDGE

M nkwa Nigeria m Country
Iji ikwesị ntụkwasị obi,-eguzosi ike n'ihe na-eme ihe n'eziokwu
Iji na-eje ozi Nigeria m nile ike
Iji chebe ya dị n'otu
Ma na-akwado ya nsọpụrụ na otuto
Ya mere enyere m aka Chineke.

 HAUSA LANGUAGE

Verse 1

Yaku ‘yan Nijeriya ku farka;

Ku amsa kiran Nijeriya;

Domin mu taimaki kasarmu ta haihuwa;

Don aiki ga kasata cikin soyayya da rikon gaskiya;

Domin gudumawar da shuwagabaninmu ‘yan kishin kasa suka bada;

kada ta zama a banza;

Muyi aiki da zuciya daya da girmamawa a gareta;

Domin ta kasance kasa daya mai yanci ga kowa tare da hadin kai da zaman lafiya.

Verse 2

Oh Allah na halitta

Direct mu daraja dalili

Shiryar da shugabanninmu dama

Taimake mu matasa da gaskiya su san

A kauna da kirki girma

Kuma rai adalci da gaskiya

Great bẽne Heights kai

Don gina al'umma inda zaman lafiya

Kuma gaskiya zai yi mulki

THE PLEDGE

Na dauki alkawari ga kasata Nijeriya;
Zan kansance da gaskiya; 
zan bautawa kasata Nijeriya da dukkan karfina;
Zan kare hadin kanta;
Da daukaka darajarta da fifitata;
Allah ya taimake mu.