La Dessalinienne

"La Dessalinienne" (French pronunciation: ​[la dɛs.salinjɛn]; Haitian Creole: "Desalinyèn"; English: "The Dessalines Song") is the national anthem of Haiti. It was written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard.[1][2]

La Dessalinienne
English: The Song of Dessalines
National anthem of  Haiti
LyricsJustin Lhérisson, 1903
MusicNicolas Geffrard, 1903
AdoptedJanuary 1, 1904 (1904-01-01)
Audio sample
"La Dessalinienne" (instrumental, one verse)
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Etymology

"La Dessalinienne" is named in honor of Haiti's revolutionary leader and first ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines.[3]

History

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, a competition was held for a national anthem in 1903. The poetic words of Justin Lhérisson and martial composition of Nicolas Geffrard won over the judges, which led to its official adoption as the national anthem in 1904.[4][5]

The 1903 premiere of the composition was sung by Auguste de Pradines, also known as Kandjo.[6]:47

As a one verse rendition can be relatively short, a common way to lengthen a performance is to perform an abridged arrangement consisting of the first verse immediately followed by the last one.[7]

Unofficial variant

There is a Haitian Creole version that was created by Raymond A. Moise. Ansy Dérose, a Haitian singer, helped popularize it. Although it became widely accepted, the 1987 Haitian Constitution makes no mention of this particular version.[1]

Lyrics
French
(official)		 English translation of the French version Creole version
(unofficial)		 English translation of the Creole version

Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres,
Marchons unis, Marchons unis.
Dans nos rangs point de traîtres!
Du sol soyons seuls maîtres.
Marchons unis, Marchons unis
Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres,
Marchons, marchons, marchons unis,
Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres.

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux
Quand le champ fructifie
L'âme se fortifie
Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Bêchons, bêchons, bêchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie.

Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Libres, forts et prospères
Toujours nous serons frères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons, formons, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères.

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Sous ta garde infinie
Prends nos droits, notre vie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie.

Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau!
Notre passé nous crie:
Ayez l'âme aguerrie!
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie.

For the country,
For the ancestors,
Let us march. Let us march united.
Let there be no traitors in our ranks!
Let us be masters of our soil.
United let us march
For the country,
For the ancestors.

For the forefathers,
For the country
Let us toil joyfully.
When the field is fertile
Our soul strengthens.
Let us toil joyfully
For our forebears,
For our country.

For the country
And for the forefathers,
Let us train our sons
Free, strong, and prosperous,
We shall always be brothers.
Let us train our sons
For the country
And for the forefathers.

For the forefathers,
For the country,
Oh God of the valiant!
Take our rights and our life
Under your infinite protection,
Oh God of the valiant!
For the forefathers,
For the country.

For the flag,
For the country
To die is a glorious deed!
Our past cries out to us:
Have a seasoned soul!
To die is a glorious deed,
For the flag,
For the country.

Pou Ayiti peyi Zansèt yo
Se pou-n (pou nou) mache men nan lamen
Nan mitan-n (mitan nou) pa fèt pou gen trèt
Nou fèt pou-n (pou nou) sèl mèt tèt nou.
Annou mache men nan lamen
Pou Ayiti ka vin pi bèl
Annou, annou, met tèt ansanm
Pou Ayiti onon tout Zansèt yo.

Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo
Se pou-n (pou nou) sekle se pou-n (pou nou) plante
Se nan tè tout fòs nou chita
Se li-k (li ki) ba nou manje
Ann bite tè, ann voye wou
Ak kè kontan, fòk tè a bay
Sekle, wouze, fanm tankou gason
Pou-n (Pou nou) rive viv ak sèl fòs ponyèt nou.

Pou Ayiti ak pou Zansèt yo
Fo nou kapab vanyan gason
Moun pa fèt pou ret avèk moun
Se sa-k (sa ki) fè tout Manman ak tout Papa
Dwe pou voye Timoun lekòl
Pou yo aprann, pou yo konnen
Sa Tousen, Desalin, Kristòf, Petyon
Te fè pou wet Ayisyen anba bòt blan.

Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo
Ann leve tèt nou gad anlè
Pou tout moun mande Granmèt la
Pou-l (Pou li) ba nou pwoteksyon
Pou move zanj pa detounen-n
Pou-n (Pou nou) ka mache nan bon chimen
Pou libète ka libète
Fòk lajistis blayi sou peyi a!

Nou gen drapo tankou tout pèp
Se pou nou renmen-l (renmen li) mouri pou li
Se pa kado blan te fè nou
Se san Zansèt nou yo ki te koule
Pou nou kenbe drapo nou wo
Se pou nou travay met tèt ansanm.
Pou lòt peyi ka respekte-l (respekte li)
Drapo sila a se nanm tout Ayisyen.

For Haiti, the Country of the Ancestors
we must walk hand in hand
There must not be traitors among us--
We alone must be our master
Let's walk hand in hand
that Haiti may be more beautiful
Let us put our heads together
for Haiti on behalf of all the ancestors

For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors
Let us mow, let us sow.
All our strength rests in the soul--
It is what feeds us.
Let us mound up earth, let us send water
With joy, the earth must be fertile
Mow, water, women and men
that we may live by our own arms' strength alone.

For Haiti and for the Ancestors
We must be courageous, capable men.
People are not born to serve others
That is why all mothers and fathers
Need to send children to school,
to learn, to know
what Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion
did to take Haitians from under the whites' boot.

For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors
Let us raise our head and look above.
Let everyone to ask the Lord
to grant us protection
that the evil angels may not divert us,
that we may walk in the right path.
For liberty to be able to liberate,
justice must spread over the country!

We have a flag like all peoples.
Let us love it, die for it.
It was not a gift from the whites--
It was our Ancestors' blood that was shed.
Let us hold our flag high.
Let us work together and focus
that other countries may respect it
This flag is the soul of every Haitian.

See also

References
  1. "Haitian Patriotic Songs". Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  2. Malena Kuss. Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: Volume 2 Performing the Caribbean Experience - An Encyclopedic History. The Universe of Music Inc. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-292-70951-5.
  3. Olsen, Dale A.; Sheehy, Daniel E. (2014). The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music. p. 139. ISBN 9780415961011. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  4. Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. p. 182. ISBN 9780810878105. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. Haitian National Anthem : La Dessalinienne
  6. Averill, Gage (1997). A day for the hunter, a day for the prey: Popular music and power in Haiti. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226032931.
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3fvFPIMYs0
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