Rhodesia
"Rise O Voices of Rhodesia"

Words by: Mary Bloom
Music by: Ludwig von Beethoven
In use: 1974-1979

When Rhodesia first declared its independence in 1965, it was a member of the British Commonwealth, and retained the Queen as the head of state, therefore "God Save the Queen" was the national anthem until Rhodesia became a republic in 1970, and ties were severed with the United Kingdom. Rhodesia then did not have a national anthem until a national competition was held and "Rise O Voices of Rhodesia" was declared as the anthem on 26th August 1974. Using Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (which was also used at the time as the anthem of the European Union, and still is today) as the melody, the lyrics were composed by a South African born resident of Gwelo. The white majority rule was ended in 1979 (and the country was renamed Zimbabwe-Rhodesia), and the nation of Zimbabwe was created the following year; I am unsure whether this anthem was used in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia as the sole national anthem, if it was a part of the anthem (perhaps combined with "God Bless Africa", similar to what is currently being done in South Africa), or if it was not used at all.

Special thanks to: Bert H de la Houssaye for informing me of this anthem and to Federico Vicini for some of the info.

See also: Zimbabwe (1980-1994).