Arise, O Compatriots
Former National anthem of Nigeria | |
Lyrics | John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe, 1978 |
---|---|
Music | Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of B. E. Odiasse, 1990 |
Adopted | 1978 |
Relinquished | 29 May 2024 |
Succeeded by | Nigeria, We Hail Thee |
Audio sample | |
Arise, O Compatriots |
Arise, O Compatriots was the second national anthem of Nigeria, used from 1 October 1978 until 2024 after Nigeria, We Hail Thee was relinquished. On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished followed by the readoption of the 1st national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" used from 1960 until 1978[1]
History
[edit]The anthem was adopted in 1978 and replaced the previous national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee".[2]
The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict P. Odiase (1934���2013). The Nigerian national anthem lyrics were created by five people: P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.
On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished following a bill passed by the National Assembly and subsequently signed into law by president Bola Tinubu. It was replaced by "Nigeria, We Hail Thee", Nigeria’s first national anthem.[3][1]
Lyrics
[edit]Although the anthem has two verses, usually only the first is sung. On some occasions, the second verse is recited as "The National Prayer".
English original[4] | Hausa translation | Igbo translation |
---|---|---|
I |
I |
I |
Yoruba translation[5] | Fulani translation | Tyap translation |
---|---|---|
I |
I |
I |
National Pledge
[edit]The Nigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976.[6]
English original | Hausa translation | Yoruba translation | Tyap translation |
---|---|---|---|
I pledge to Nigeria, my country |
Na yi wa Najeriya alƙawarin ƙasata |
Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi |
N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Akpan, Samuel (29 May 2024). "Tinubu signs bill returning Nigeria back to using the old national anthem". The Cable. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria's National Anthem Composer, Pa Ben Odiase, Dies". Gazelle News. 2013-06-12. Archived from the original on 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- ^ AriseNews (2024-05-29). "National Assembly Passes Bill to Change National Anthem from 'Arise O Compatriots' to 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee'". Arise News. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "National Anthem". Embassy of Nigeria, Hungary. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ "Awọn aami Orilẹ-ede Naijiria ati Ohun ti Wọn Aṣoju Imudojuiwọn Titun". Current School News (in Yoruba). 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ Mbamalu, Socrates (3 May 2021). "Prof. Felicia Adeyoyin, Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Dies at 83". Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
- ^ "Nigerian National Anthem". Nigeria High Commission UK. Retrieved 2022-02-19.