O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers
National anthem of  Cameroon | |
| Also known as | Chant de Ralliement (English: The Rallying Song) |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | René Djam Afame / Samuel Minkio Bamba / Moïse Nyatte Nko'o |
| Music | René Djam Afame |
| Adopted | 1957 |
| Audio sample | |
Chant de Ralliement (Instrumental) | |
Chant de Ralliement or The Rallying Song is the national anthem of Cameroon. It was used on an unofficial basis beginning in 1948 before independence, and officially adopted in 1957. The music was composed by René Djam Afame, who also wrote the lyrics along with Samuel Minkio Bamba and Moïse Nyatte Nko'o. The lyrics were changed in 1978.
French lyrics
- O Cameroun berceau de nos ancêtres,
- Va debout et jaloux de ta liberté,
- Comme un soleil ton drapeau fier doit être,
- Un symbole ardent de foi et d'unité.
- CHORUS:
- Chère Patrie, Terre chérie,
- Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur,
- Notre joie, notre vie,
- En toi l'amour et le grand honneur.
- Que tous tes enfants du Nord au Sud,
- De l'Est à l'Ouest soient tout amour,
- Te servir que ce soit le seul but,
- Pour remplir leur devoir toujours.
- CHORUS:
- Chère Patrie, Terre chérie,
- Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur,
- Notre joie, notre vie,
- En toi l'amour et le grand honneur.
English lyrics
- O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers,
- Holy Shrine where in our midst they now repose,
- Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil did water,
- On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose.
- Dear Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell!
- How can we ever pay thy due?
- Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace,
- Will be to thy name ever true!
- CHORUS:
- Land of Promise, land of Glory!
- Thou, of life and joy, our only store!
- Thine be honour, thine devotion,
- And deep endearment, for evermore.
- From Shari, from where the Mungo meanders
- From along the banks of lowly Boumba Stream,
- Muster thy sons in union close around thee,
- Mighty as the Buea Mountain be their team;
- Instil in them the love of gentle ways,
- Regret for errors of the past;
- Foster, for Mother Africa, a loyalty
- That true shall remain to the last.
- CHORUS:
- Land of Promise, land of Glory!
- Thou, of life and joy, our only store!
- Thine be honour, thine devotion,
- And deep endearment, for evermore.