La Congolaise

La Congolaise
English: The Congolese
	National anthem of the; Republic of the Congo
Lyrics	Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi
Music	Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière
Adopted	1959
Readopted	1991
Relinquished	1969
Preceded by	"Les Trois Glorieuses" (1969–1991)
Audio sample
	U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse and chorus) file; help;

"La Congolaise" (English: "The Congolese", Kongo: "Besi Kôngo") is the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo. It was adopted upon independence from France in 1959,^[1] replaced in 1969 by "Les Trois Glorieuses" but reinstated in 1991. The lyrics were written by Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi, and the music was composed by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.^[1]^[2]

Lyrics

The first verse and chorus constitute as the official national anthem and are most commonly played during events.

French official^[1]^[3]	English translation^[3]
I En ce jour le soleil se lève Et notre Congo resplendit. Une longue nuit s'achève, Un grand bonheur a surgi. Chantons tous avec ivresse Le chant de la liberté. Refrain : Congolais, debout fièrement partout, Proclamons l'union de notre nation, Oublions ce qui nous divise, Soyons plus unis que jamais, Vivons pour notre devise: Unité, travail, progrès, Vivons pour notre devise: Unité, travail, progrès! II Des forêts jusqu'à la savanne, Des savannes jusqu'à la mer, Un seul peuple, une seule âme, Un seul cœur, ardent et fier, Luttons tous, tant que nous sommes, Pour notre vieux pays noir. Refrain III Et s'il nous faut mourir, en somme Qu'importe puisque nos enfants, Partout, pourront dire comme On triomphe en combattant, Et dans le moindre village Chantent sous nos trois couleurs. Refrain	I On this day the sun rises And our Congo stands resplendent. A long night is ended, A great happiness has come. Let us all, with wild joyfulness, sing The song of freedom. Chorus: Arise, Congolese, proud every man, Proclaim the unity of our nation. Let us forget what divides us And become more united than ever. Let us live our motto: Unity, work, progress. Let us live our motto: Unity, work, progress! II From the forest to the savannah, From the savannah to the sea, One people, one soul, One heart, ardent and proud. Let us all fight, every one of us, For our black country. Chorus III And if we have to die, What does it really matter? Our children Everywhere will be able to say how Triumph comes through battle, And in the smallest village Sing beneath our three colours. Chorus

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Hymne, Drapeau & armoiries". Ambassade de la République du Congo au Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^ La Semaine africaine 378, 29 November 1959, cited by Silvère NGOUNDOS IDOURAH and Nicole DOCKES-LALLEMENT, Justice et pouvoir au Congo-Brazzaville, 1958–1992, la confusion des rôles, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2001, ISBN 2-7475-1319-X, 9782747513197
^ ^a ^b Shaw, Martin (1975). National Anthems of the World. Blandford Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7137-0679-6.

External links

Republic of the Congo: La Congolaise - Audio of the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo, with information and lyrics (archive link)

[:1-1] "Hymne, Drapeau & armoiries". Ambassade de la République du Congo au Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

[2] La Semaine africaine 378, 29 November 1959, cited by Silvère NGOUNDOS IDOURAH and Nicole DOCKES-LALLEMENT, Justice et pouvoir au Congo-Brazzaville, 1958–1992, la confusion des rôles, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2001, ISBN 2-7475-1319-X, 9782747513197

[:0-3] Shaw, Martin (1975). National Anthems of the World. Blandford Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7137-0679-6.

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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)
Organisations	African Union East African Community
Italics denotes unrecognized, partially-recognized, or non-sovereign entities.