La Concorde

La Concorde
English: The Concorde
	National anthem of Gabon
Lyrics	Georges Aleka Damas, 1960
Music	Georges Aleka Damas, 1960
Adopted	1960
Audio sample
	Duration: 1 minute and 45 seconds.1:45 U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (chorus and one verse) file; help;

"La Concorde" (pronounced [la kɔ̃.kɔʁd]) is the national anthem of Gabon. Written and composed by politician Georges Aleka Damas, it was adopted upon independence in 1960.^[1]

History

In a speech in Port-Gentil on 15 March 1962, President Léon M'ba stated his intention to have the national anthem translated into the various Gabonese dialects "so that in the remotest village in the country everyone will be able to understand its meaning."^[2]

Lyrics

French lyrics

French lyrics^[1]	IPA transcription^[a]
Refrain : Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève, Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève! 𝄆 C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité. 𝄇 I Éblouissant et fier, le jour sublime monte Pourchassant à jamais l'injustice et la honte. Qu'il monte, monte encore et calme nos alarmes, Qu'il prône la vertu et repousse les armes. Refrain II Oui que le temps heureux rêvé par nos ancêtres Arrive enfin chez nous, réjouisse^[b] les êtres, Et chasse les sorciers, ces perfides trompeurs^[c] Qui sèment le poison et répandent la peur.^[d] Refrain III Afin qu'aux yeux du monde et des nations amies Le Gabon immortel reste digne d'envie, Oublions nos querelles, ensemble bâtissons L'édifice nouveau auquel tous nous rêvons. Refrain IV Des bords de l'Océan au cœur de la forêt, Demeurons vigilants, sans faiblesse et sans haine! Autour de ce drapeau, qui vers l'honneur nous mène, Saluons la Patrie et chantons sans arrêt! Refrain	[ʁə.fʁɛ̃] [y.ni dɑ̃ la kɔ̃.kɔʁd e la fʁa.tɛʁ.ni.te] [e.vɛj.twa ɡa.bɔ̃ yn o.ʁɔʁ sə lɛv] [ɑ̃.ku.ʁaʒ l‿aʁ.dœʁ ki vibʁ e nu su.lɛv] 𝄆 [s‿ɛt‿ɑ̃.fɛ̃ nɔtʁ e.sɔʁ vɛʁ la fe.li.si.te] 𝄇 1 [e.blu.i.sɑ̃ e fjɛʁ lə ʒuʁ sy.blim mɔ̃t] [puʁ.ʃa.sɑ̃ a ʒa.mɛ l‿ɛ̃.ʒys.tis e la ɔ̃t] [k‿il mɔ̃t mɔ̃t ɑ̃.kɔʁ e kalm no a.laʁm] [k‿il pʁon la vɛʁ.ty e ʁə.pus le.z‿ aʁm] [ʁə.fʁɛ̃]

Translations

Sangu translation	English translation
Refrain: Bootsu, budughe, ghu ghyèèndze, ne bumvile Rambughe Ngabu, magyéélu me metsaange, Sighe piindzu I ghwène tsukume, ne utélighe batu ! 𝄆 Dine re Dimakulu dyéétu, ghu bufumu ne bumuumbe. 𝄇 I Yalele ne Nyému, wisi wumeghi Wupundzi di mubu, ighughume ne tsonyi Wughi wukoondi ughi, wurumbimisi bekyère béétu, Wusangimisi menyi, wukungighi bilwaani. Refrain	Chorus: United in the concord and the brotherhood, Awaken thee, Gabon, dawn is at hand. Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us! 𝄆 At last we rise up to attain happiness. 𝄇 I Dazzling and proud, the sublime day dawns, Dispelling for ever injustice and shame. May it rise, rise again and calm our fears, May it promote virtue and banish warfare. Chorus II Yes, may the happy days dreamed by our ancestors Come for us at last, rejoice our hearts, And banish the sorcerers, those perfidious deceivers Who sow poison and spread fear. Chorus III So that, in the eyes of the world and of friendly nations, The immortal Gabon may maintain her good repute, Let us forget our quarrels, let us build together The new structure of which we are all dreaming of. Chorus IV From the shores of the Ocean to the heart of the forest, Let us remain vigilant, without weakness and without hatred! Around this flag which leads us to honour, Let us salute the Fatherland and ever sing! Chorus

Notes

^ See Help:IPA/French, French phonology and African French.
^ Sometimes written rejouisse.^[3]
^ This line originally and still refers to France.
^ Sometimes written Qui semaient le poison et répandaient la peur ("Who were sowing poison and spreading fear."), especially in older publications.^[3]^[4]^[5]

References

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Symboles nationaux". Présidence de la République Gabonaise. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
^ Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 1962. p. I 10.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Shaw, Martin (1975). National Anthems of the World. Blandford Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-7137-0679-6.
^ Encyclopédie africaine et malgache: Centre Afrique (in French). Librairie Larousse. 1964.
^ "Histoire". Direction Générale de la Statistique (in French). Retrieved 2022-01-20.

External links

Gabon: La Concorde - Audio of the national anthem of Gabon, with information and lyrics (archive link)

[3] See Help:IPA/French, French phonology and African French.

[5] Sometimes written rejouisse.^[3]

[6] This line originally and still refers to France.

[9] Sometimes written Qui semaient le poison et répandaient la peur ("Who were sowing poison and spreading fear."), especially in older publications.^[3]^[4]^[5]

[presidence-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Symboles nationaux". Présidence de la République Gabonaise. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

[2] Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 1962. p. I 10.

[Shaw-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Shaw, Martin (1975). National Anthems of the World. Blandford Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-7137-0679-6.

[7] Encyclopédie africaine et malgache: Centre Afrique (in French). Librairie Larousse. 1964.

[8] "Histoire". Direction Générale de la Statistique (in French). Retrieved 2022-01-20.

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v t e National and regional anthems of Africa
Current national and regional anthems	Algeria Angola Ankole Benin Botswana Buganda Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Réunion Rwanda Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia Somaliland Saint Helena South Africa South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe
Former national and regional anthems	Bophuthatswana (1977–1994) Ciskei (1981–1994) Comoros (1975–1978) Congo Free State (1885–1908) People's Republic of the Congo (1970–1990) Biafra (1967–1970) Egypt (1871–1922, 1936–1958) Egypt (1922–1936) Egypt (1971–1979) Ethiopia (1930–1975) Ethiopia (1975–1992) Gazankulu (1973–1994) Katanga (1960–1963) Libya (1969–1972) Libya (1972–2011) Mali Federation (1960) Mauritania (1960–2017) Mozambique (1975–2002) Namibia (1990–1991) Niger (1961–2023) Nigeria (1978–2024) Orange Free State (1854–1902) Rhodesia (1974–1979) Rwanda (1962–2002) Seychelles (1976–1978) Seychelles (1978–1996) Somalia (1960–2000) Somalia (2000–2012) Somaliland South Africa (1910–1957) South Africa (1938–1997) South Africa (1994–1997) Southern Rhodesia (1979–1980) Togo (1979–1992) Transkei (1976–1994) Transvaal (1875–1877, 1881–1902, 1914–1915) Tunisia (1846–1957) Tunisia (1957–1987) United Arab Republic (1958–1971) Upper Volta (1960–1984) Venda (1979–1994) Zaire (1971–1997) Zambia (1964–1973) Zimbabwe (1980–1994)
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