Haiti
"Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves" (When our Fathers broke their Chains)

Words by: Oswald Durand
Music by: Occide Jeanty
In use: 1893-1903

In 1893 a visiting warship to the Haitian capital was required by protocol to perform the Haitian anthem. Since Haiti did not yet have an anthem, the composer Occide Jeanty offered to compose music for the patriotic poem "Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves". This was completed that night and the anthem was debuted aboard the ship. It remained as an unofficial national anthem until a new one was chosen to mark Haiti's centennial on January 1, 1804. The former anthem still remains in use as a presidential salute.

Special thanks to: Jan Scotland for some of this information.

See also: Haiti.