For The Gambia Our Homeland

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For The Gambia Our Homeland
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version

"For The Gambia Our Homeland" is the national anthem of the Gambia. It is based on the music of a traditional Mandinka song, to which original Mandinka lyrics were written by Jali Nyama Suso. An English arrangement and translation were made by husband and wife Jeremy and Virginia Howe and adopted as the national anthem in 1965.

History

In the lead-up to The Gambia's independence from the United Kingdom on 18 February 1965, a National Anthem Selection Committee was set up to accept submissions for a national anthem for the country. The Committee would ultimately receive three submissions. One submission, by Reverend John Colley Faye, although acknowledged as "superb" in content, was rejected for being too long, with the Committee preferring something more to the point and easy to memorise.[1]: 281 

Mandinka musician Jali Nyama Suso was approached by the government to compose an entry. He responded that he would base his proposal on a traditional Mandinka tune dedicated to Foday Kabba Dumbuya (or Fodee Kaba Dumbuya), a Muslim reformer and warrior remembered for his conquests for Islam, and a patron of Jali Nyama's grandfather. Jali Nyama stated that basing national anthems on odes to local historical figures had been done in nearby Guinea and Mali. Jali Nyama wrote his own Mandinka lyrics to the tune.[2][3]

Jali Nyama's proposal was recorded and sent to be heard in the Prime Minister's office in the Cabinet, where it was liked by Prime Minister

Governor-General John Paul, it was sent to be translated into English by Jeremy Frederick Howe,[2] Chairman of the Selection Committee. Howe was a member of the Gambia Colonial Service from 1954 to 1965, an Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Local Government. Howe would ultimately be credited for the composition of the anthem, while his wife, Virginia Julia Howe, a university-trained composer, would be credited for the English translation.[1]: 281 [2]

Lyrics

The original lyrics are in English, but have been translated into local languages such as Mandinka[4] and Wolof.[1]

English lyrics[5][6][7][8] Wolof lyrics[1]

For The Gambia, our homeland
We strive and work and pray,
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.

Let justice guide our actions
Towards the common good,
And join our diverse peoples[a]
To prove man's brotherhood.

We pledge our firm allegiance,
Our promise we renew;
Keep us, great God of nations,
To The Gambia ever true.

Gambia mede sunyu rewe.
Nyu nge jaim di liggaye de nyan
Ndakh nyun nyep nyu bolloh nek a bena
Am sunyu affier ak jama base bu neka.

Na degga sama sunyu jefye
Nyeal jef yu bakh ye ngu digalleh
Tay bolleh sunyu girr ye
Ndakh wonneh ni dom adama wara nekeh bena.

Nyunge tailleh Sunyu degga deggi nangu
Tei essal sunyu diggeh
Yalla mu maggame omba askanwe
Sahal nyu chi Gambia beh fau.

Notes

  1. ^ Sometimes written as "people".[9][10][11][12]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4918-6981-9
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4008-2521-9
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-86442-593-5
    .
  4. ^ "Jaliba Kuyateh - National Anthem in Mandinka". YouTube.
  5. ^ "Gambia National Anthem". Access Gambia. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ The Gambia Year Book. Adara Bros. 1971. p. 27.
  7. ^ M'Bai, Fafa E. (1983). The Citizen and the Law. Xam Xam Books and Stationery Company. p. 16.
  8. ^ The Flag, Coat-of-arms and National Anthem of the Gambia. 1982.
  9. ^ The Gambia Trade Guide and Business Directory. Toplink Communications in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment. 1997.
  10. ^ Pope John Paul II (1992). Pope John Paul II Greets The Gambia: The Complete and Official Text of the Holy Father's Speeches to Us in the Gambia in February, 1992. Gambia Pastoral Institute. p. 2.
  11. ^ "What Has Happened At Manduar Village?". Gambia.com. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  12. ^ "UDP Leader hopes a victory in December election -". The Voice Newspaper Gambia. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

External links

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