In preparation for the upcoming independence referendum in January, 2011, the South Sudan National Anthem Committee asked a group of 49 writers to come up with an anthem for the country. After following guidelines by the army and government, which stated that the anthem had to include mentions of its history, people, and resources, as well as being told about the struggle for independence, lyrics were then chosen by means of a televised competition. Originally under the working title “Land of Cush” (in reference to a Biblical kingdom which is roughly located in the area of South Sudan), the lyrics were revised several times in the following months after the successful independence referendum, and a final version was settled in March, 2011, which slightly altered the wording (among other things replacing the word “Cush” with “South Sudan”).

Special thanks to: Ben Cahoon for some of this information.