Nigeria, We Hail Thee is the national anthem of Nigeria. Dating to 1959, the lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams and the music was composed by Frances Benda. It was first used upon independence in 1960, until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.[2] "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was officially readopted on 29 May 2024.[3]
 | |
National anthem of  Nigeria | |
| Lyrics | Lillian Jean Williams[1], 1959 |
|---|---|
| Music | Frances Benda, 1959 |
| Adopted | 1 October 1960 |
| Readopted | 29 May 2024 |
| Relinquished | 1 October 1978 |
| Preceded by | Arise, O Compatriots |
| Audio sample | |
Nigeria, We Hail Thee | |
History
edit"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was adopted as Nigeria's national anthem on 1 October 1960.
A competition was held to select the music and lyrics of the anthem. The winning lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Williams worked for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Welfare and donated her prize money to the Nigerian Red Cross.[4]
Frances Benda composed the music for "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."[5][6] In 2024, Tolu Ogunlesi identified that Benda was a pen name for Mrs Charles Kernot, a private music teacher and professional pianist at the Carol Hill School of Classical Ballet in London.[4] Her composition was chosen by judges including Professor Fela Sowande, O. Omideyi, Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips, Wilberforce Echezona, M.C. Majekodunmi and H Lawson.[7]
The song was used as the national anthem until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.[5]
On 23 May 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill to relinquish "Arise, O Compatriots" and readopt "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". The bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2024.[8]
Lyrics
edit| English original | Yoruba translation[9] |
|---|---|
I |
I |
National Pledge
editThe Nigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976.[10]
| English original | Hausa translation | Yoruba translation | Tyap translation |
|---|---|---|---|
I pledge to Nigeria, my country |
Na yi wa Najeriya alƙawarin ƙasata |
Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi |
N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka. |
Criticism
editWhen "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first adopted in 1960, the new national anthem faced criticism for a number[quantify] of reasons. The Daily Service, a newspaper run by the Yoruba organisation Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, started a campaign against the national anthem, which led to a committee being established to collect signatures as a petition.[12]
Following its readoption in 2024, the song was again criticised for the lack of consultation in passing the law designating it as the national anthem and for what was perceived to be misplaced priorities by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Former education minister Oby Ezekwesili criticised the anthem's suitability, given the presence of "pejorative" words like "native land" and "tribes", and that she would continue to sing Arise, O Compatriots as the national anthem.[13][14] A video of political activist Aisha Yesufu circulated online where she refused to recite "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the new national anthem.[15]
Mohammed Tahir Monguno, chair of the parliamentary committee that pushed through the anthem's readoption, said that the change was "apt, timely and important", while Tinubu said the anthem symbolised Nigeria's diversity.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Standardised lyrics of reintroduced National Anthem released". 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria's National Anthem Composer, Pa Ben Odiase, Dies". Gazelle News. 2013-06-12. Archived from the original on 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- ^ Akpan, Samuel (29 May 2024). "Tinubu signs bill returning old national anthem into law". The Cable. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b Omosola, Friday (2024-05-31). "Nigeria: How Frances Benda, Not Frances Berda, Composed 'Nigeria We Hail Thee'". Premium Times. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ a b "Goodnight, Pa Benedict Odiase (1934 – 2013)". National Mirror. 2013-06-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Omosola, Friday (2024-05-30). "How Frances Benda, not Frances Berda, composed 'Nigeria We Hail Thee'". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ "National Anthem and the Military Legacy". This Day. Lagos. 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria's new-old national anthem sparks outrage after it is signed by Bola Tinubu". BBC News. 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=atzP1UaP9BjF95kD&v=oezCOfY8UCg&feature=youtu.be
- ^ Mbamalu, Socrates (3 May 2021). "Prof. Felicia Adeyoyin, Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Dies at 83". Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
- ^ "Nigerian National Anthem". Nigeria High Commission UK. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Mphahlele, Ezekiel (1960). "Nigeria on the Eve of Independence". Africa Today. 7 (6): 4–6. JSTOR 4184128.
- ^ a b "Outrage as Nigeria changes national anthem". BBC. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Nigeria's new anthem, written by a Briton, sparks criticism after a contentious law is passed". Associated Press. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Opejobi, Seun (2024-06-01). "I'll never sing old national anthem - Ezekwesili backs Aisha Yesufu, tackles Tinubu". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-06-01.