Hail Grenada

{{Short description|National anthem of Grenada}}

{{Infobox anthem

| title = Hail Grenada

| image_size =

| caption =

| prefix = National

| country = Grenada

| author = Irva Merle Baptiste-Blackett

| lyrics_date =

| composer = Louis Arnold Masanto

| music_date =

| adopted = 1974

| until =

| sound = HailGrenada.ogg

| sound_title = Instrumental version

}}

"Hail Grenada" has been the national anthem of Grenada since independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. The words are by Irva Merle Baptiste-Blackett {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}} (1924–2020), and the music is by Louis Arnold Masanto (born 1938).{{Cite web|date=2006|title=Irva Merle Baptiste Blackette|url=http://grenadianconnection.com/SpecialEvents/2006IndpSpcFeat.asp?pgv=|access-date=2020-10-16|website=grenadianconnection.com}}{{Cite web|date=2020-09-08|title=Composer of Grenada's National Anthem dies {{!}} NOW Grenada|url=https://www.nowgrenada.com/2020/09/composer-of-grenadas-national-anthem-dies/|access-date=2020-10-16|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Louis Arnold Masanto- Bio, Albums, Pictures – Naxos Classical Music.|url=https://www.naxos.com/person/Louis_Arnold_Masanto/21686.htm|access-date=2022-01-21|website=www.naxos.com}} It formally replaced the Grenada National State Anthem, written and adopted in 1967.

History

The anthem was written by schoolteacher Irva Merle Baptiste-Blackett. Also a music teacher, Baptiste-Blackett took part in the Independence Anthem Songwriting Competition in the early 1970s, with her submission being selected as the national anthem. During the 2009 Independence Celebrations, Baptiste-Blackett received Grenada's Camerhogne Silver Award for her writing of the national anthem.

Lyrics

class="wikitable"

!English lyrics{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.grenadaconsulatemiami.com/about/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Consulate General of Grenada, Miami|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Our Office|url=https://grenada-highcommission.co.uk/our-office/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=High Commission of Grenada in the United Kingdom|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=National Anthem of Grenada|url=https://www.grenadaembassy.ru/anthem/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Embassy of Grenada in Russia|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121223829/https://grenadaembassy.ru/anthem/|url-status=dead}}

!Grenadian Creole French lyrics

style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"

|Hail! Grenada, land of ours,

We pledge ourselves to thee,

Heads, hearts and hands in unity

To reach our destiny.

Ever conscious of God,

Being proud of our heritage,

May we with faith and courage

Aspire, build, advance

As one people, one family.

God bless our nation.

|{{lang|crp-GD|italic=no|Hélé la Gwinad te annou

Nou pléjé ko an nou pou ou

Tet, tje e lanmen an younité

Pou wivé déstinasyon nou

Toujou konésas an Djé

Pwéjé Héwitaj an Nou

Sé pou nou an lafwa eve kouwaj

Anspiwé, bati, avansé

Kon yonn sel moun, yonn sel fanmi

Djé benni nasyon annou}}

References

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