Tunisia
"ألا خلّدي" "Ala Khallidi" (O Make Eternal)
Words by: Jalaleddine Naccache
Music by: Salah El Mehdi
In use: 1958-1987
Tunisia's first anthem upon becoming a republic was chosen from several submissions in a national contest. All 23 musical submissions (there were also 53 different lyrics submitted) were performed in a concert in the president's home town before one was officially recognized after several months as the national anthem. It was in use until the country's first president (mentioned in the chorus) was overthrown thirty years later.
See also: Tunisia (1846-1957), Tunisia (1957-1958, 1987-).