Namibia, Land of the Brave

"Namibia, Land of the Brave" is the national anthem of Namibia, adopted in December 1991. It was written by Axali Doëseb, who was the director of a traditional music group from the Kalahari desert. Doëseb was chosen to write it after winning a contest held after Namibia became independent in 1990.

Namibia, Land of the Brave

National anthem of  Namibia
Lyrics	Axali Doëseb, 1991
Music	Axali Doëseb, 1991
Adopted	December 1991
Preceded by	"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
Audio sample
"Namibia, Land of the Brave" (instrumental) file help

History

Namibia's first national anthem, albeit unofficial, was "Das Südwesterlied" while under German colonization as German South-West Africa.[1] After it became South-West Africa as a League of Nations mandate under the Union of South Africa, the national anthem was changed to "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" to match South Africa's.[2] Following independence, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was provisionally adopted as a temporary national anthem pending the formal adoption of an official national anthem.[3][4] It was later decided that Namibia needed a unique anthem and a national competition was held to compose a new national anthem. The competition was won by Axali Doeseb with "Namibia, Land of the Brave".[3] The anthem was first played in public in a ceremony on the first anniversary of Namibia's independence from South Africa in 1991.[3] The similarity of the lyric's first-line phrase "Land of the Brave" to the end of "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States, has been noted by commentators.[4]

The composition of the Namibian national anthem was supervised by Hidipo Hamutenya, then chairman of the National Symbols subcommittee.[5] In 2006 Hamutenya claimed that he authored the lyrics himself, "on the plane to Cuba". Doëseb denied the claim.[6]

Legislation

The Parliament of Namibia passed the National Anthem of the Republic of Namibia Act, 1991. This confirmed "Namibia, Land of the Brave" as the national anthem of Namibia, made it an offense to insult it with punishment upon conviction of up to five years imprisonment or up to a R20,000 fine or both, and allowed the President of Namibia to create regulations relating to it.[7]

Lyrics

English lyrics	German translation	Afrikaans translation
First stanza
Namibia, land of the brave Freedom’s fight we have won Glory to their bravery Whose blood waters our freedom	Namibia, Land der Tapferen. Der Freiheitskampf ist gewonnen, Ehre ihrem Mut, Deren Blut floss für unsere Freiheit.	Namibië, land van die dapper, Vryheids veg het ons gewen. Eer aan hul dapperheid Wie se bloed ons vryheid wateren.
Second stanza
We give our love and loyalty Together in unity Contrasting beautiful Namibia	Wir geben unsere Liebe und Treue In Einigkeit gemeinsam, Kontrastreiches schönes Namibia,	Ons gee ons liefde en lojaliteit Saam in eenheid. Kontrasterende pragtige Namibië,
Third stanza
Namibia our country Beloved land of savannahs, Hold high the banner of liberty	Namibia unser Land. Geliebtes Land der Savannen, Haltet das Banner der Freiheit hoch.	Namibië, ons land. Geliefde land van savannas, Hou hoog die vaandel van vryheid.
Chorus
Namibia our Country, Namibia Motherland, We love thee.	Namibia unser Land, Namibia, Mutterland, Wir lieben Dich.	Namibië, ons land, Namibië, Moederland, Ons is lief vir jou.

References

1. "Song evokes apartheid memories". Windhoek Observer. 2013-10-31. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
2. The CVR Tourist Guide to Southern Africa. Chris van Rensburg Publications. 1970. p. 327. ISBN 0948253363.
3. "Namibia: Land of the Brave". NationalAnthems.info. Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
4. "National symbols? What happened to the giraffe?". The Citizen. 1990-03-21. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
5. "National Anthem of the Republic of Namibia Act, #20 of 1991". Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia (321). Government of Namibia. 17 December 1991.
6. Sibeene, Petronella (11 October 2006). "Dispute Over National Anthem's True Author". New Era.
7. "Government notice". Government Gazette. 1991-12-17. Archived from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-05-02. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• National anthem of Namibia (MIDI)