Niger

This former French colony in western Africa adopted its national anthem in 1961, a year after independence.

Special thanks to: Jo Hyo-roe for the sheet music.

Lyrics

French lyrics

Auprès du grand Niger puissant
Qui rend la nature plus belle,
Soyons fiers et reconnaissants
De notre liberté nouvelle!

Evitons les vaines querelles
Afin d’épargner notre sang,
Et que les glorieux accents
De notre race soit sans tutelle!

S’élève dans un même élan
Jusqu’à ce ciel éblouissant,
Où veille son âme éternelle
Qui fera le pays plus grand!

CHORUS:
Debout! Niger! Debout!
Que notre œuvre féconde
Rajeunisse le coeur de ce vieux continent!
Et que ce chant s’entende
Aux quatre coins du monde
Comme le cri d’un peuple équitable et vaillant!

Debout! Niger! Debout!
Sur le sol et sur l’onde,
Au son des tam-tams
Dans leur rythme grandissant,
Restons unis toujours,
Et que chacun réponde
A ce noble avenir
Qui nous dit: – En avant!

English translation

Throughout great powerful Niger
Which makes nature more beautiful,
Let us be proud and grateful
Of our new freedom!

Let us avoid vain quarrels
In order to spare ourselves bloodshed,
and may the glorious voices
Of our race be free of domination!

Let us rise in a single leap
As high as the dazzling sky,
Where stands guard its eternal soul
Which will make the country greater!

CHORUS:
Arise! Niger! Arise!
May our fruitful labors
Rejuvinate the heart of this old continent!
And may the song be heard
In the four corners of the Earth
As the cry of a fair and valliant people!

Arise! Niger! Arise!
On the ground and on the wave,
To the sound of the drums
In their growing rythms
Let us always remain united,
And may each one respond
To this noble future
Which tells us: – Go forward!