The National Anthem Bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2024, has sparked controversies among Nigerians.
The National Anthem Bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2024, has sparked controversies among Nigerians.
The Senate and House of Representatives passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.
‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ was adopted on Independence Day, October 1, 1960, but it was dropped in 1978 by the then-military administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu readopted Nigeria’s first national anthem (Nigeria, We Hail Thee) upon gaining independence in 1960.
Amidst the buzz surrounding this new development, it is imperative that we get an insight into the story behind the anthem, the lyrics, and the two female composers of the anthem.
Lillian Jean Williams
The British expatriate, Lillian Jean Williams, lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence.
She wrote the anthem’s lyrics in 1959, while Frances Berda composed the music around the same period.
Years ago, the federal government launched a contest to compose a Nigerian anthem, offering a prize of £1,000, which Ms. Berda, a ballet musician, won.
Earlier, Ms. Williams had won a separate prize for writing the anthem lyrics.
The late famous South African literary icon Ezekiel Mphahlele detailed the intrigues behind the adoption of ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ as an anthem in an article titled ‘Nigeria on the Eve of Independence in Africa Today’ published in September 1960.
Also, in the publication, he revealed that Nigerians challenged the choice of both foreign women as the authors and composers of the anthems.
“In the name of independence, the winning entries should have been chosen from the 500 entries that came from Nigerians themselves.
“Others again argued that the music should have been composed first and then the lyrics fitted to it instead of the other way round,” Mr. Mphahlele’s article partly read.
The famed author, a former Drum Magazine reporter, lectured at the University College (now University of Ibadan).
However, the anthem was eventually adopted and used on October 1, 1960, to celebrate Nigeria’s independence.
Interestingly, Nigerians, especially the youth, are wondering how possible it will be to quickly learn the newly adopted anthem.
However, while we ponder n the possibility, we could start learning from here. Read the lyrics below:
Nigeria We Hail Thee (lyrics)
Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ In brotherhood, we stand
Nigerians all are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
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Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle honoured,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation
Grant this our one request.
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed
And so, with peace and plenty
Nigeria shall be blessed.
National Anthem Switch
The ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ was later dropped because it was British-brewed and did not include any Nigerian input.
In 1978, John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, O Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe wrote the lyrics of the second anthem ‘Arise O Compatriots’.
Also Read: Old National Anthem Will Restore Lost Glory – Agbese
In 1990, the Nigerian police band, under the directorship of B. E. Odiasse, composed the music for the second National anthem.
The second anthem has been in use since 1978, or 48 years, making it Nigeria’s longest-serving anthem.
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