Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together
{{Short description|Anthem of the African Union}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title = Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together
| alt_title = {{langx|ar|فلنتحد جميعا ونحتفل معا}};
{{langx|fr|Unissons-nous tous et célébrons ensemble}};
{{langx|pt|Vamos todos nos unir e celebrar juntos}};
{{langx|es|Unámonos todos y celebremos juntos}};
{{langx|sw|Tuungane na tusherehekee}}
| image = Flag of the African Union.svg
| image_size =
| caption = Flag of the African Union
| prefix = Official
| country = the African Union
----
Former anthem of the
Organisation of African Unity
| author = Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin
| lyrics_date =
| composer = Arthur Mudogo Kemoli
| music_date = 1986
| adopted = 1986 (by the Organisation of African Unity)
2002 (by the African Union)
| until =
| sound = LetUsAllUniteAndCelebrateTogether.ogg
| sound_title = Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together (Instrumental)
}}
"Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together" ({{langx|ar|فلنتحد جميعا ونحتفل معا}}; {{langx|fr|Unissons-nous tous et célébrons ensemble}}; {{langx|pt|Vamos todos nos unir e celebrar juntos}}; {{langx|es|Unámonos todos y celebremos juntos}}; {{langx|sw|Hebu wote kuungana na kusherehekea pamoja}}) is the anthem of the African Union (AU). It was written as a poem titled "Proud to be African" by Ethiopian poet Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, while the music was composed by Kenyan choral composer Arthur Mudogo Kemoli. It had served as the anthem of the former Organisation of African Unity since 1986 before being adopted by the newly formed Union in 2002.
History
The anthem was written as a poem titled "Proud to be African" by Ethiopian poet Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin. Kenyan choral composer Arthur Mudogo Kemoli composed the anthem's music in Dakar, Senegal in 1986{{Cite web|date=|title=Arthur Mudogo Kemoli|url=https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/cvs/126770_DrArthurMKemoli.doc|access-date=2022-01-04|website=profiles.uonbi.ac.ke|page=3|archive-date=2022-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104104939/https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/cvs/126770_DrArthurMKemoli.doc|url-status=dead}} and it was selected as the anthem of the AU's predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), as part of a contest.{{Cite web|date=2012|title=Complete National Anthems of the World: 2013 Edition|url=https://www.eclassical.com/shop/17115/art76/4800276-83a3be-636943100110.pdf|website=www.eclassical.com}}{{Cite web|last=Kabaji|first=Egara|title=Kemoli: the fallen music giant|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/features/article/2000066664/kemoli-the-fallen-music-giant|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104105639/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/features/article/2000066664/kemoli-the-fallen-music-giant|archive-date=2022-01-04|access-date=2022-01-04|website=The Standard|language=en}} That same year,{{efn|Some sources say 1976.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NhkwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22anthem%22|title=Press Digest|date=2006|publisher=Anasir Publishers|volume=13|pages=7|language=en|issue=1–26}}{{Cite news|title=Ethiopian poet laid to rest in Addis Ababa|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/ethiopian-poet-laid-to-rest-in-addis-ababa-268489|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}}} the OAU honoured Tsegaye with the OAU African Unity Anthem Prize for writing the anthem.{{Cite web|title=POET LAUREATE TSEGAYE GABRE|url=http://www.ethiopians.com/tsegaye/|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.ethiopians.com}}
After the AU's formation in 2002, it organised a contest to establish official symbols of the Union, including a flag, emblem and anthem. The competition's brief for the anthem included that its short form for official ceremonies (first stanzas or two verses and chorus) should not exceed one minute in length and that each entry should include lyrics, sheet music, a good recording and an explanatory note and be submitted in one of the working languages of the AU. The brief stated that the symbols should draw inspiration from a number of values including struggle, independence, labour, unity, justice and hope. The competition was to last until 25 April 2003 and the three best entries were to be presented and the symbols chosen at a session of the AU Assembly in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003 with the first-, second- and third-place winners receiving US$7,000, US$5,000 and US$3,000 cash prizes, respectively.{{Cite web|date=2003-04-22|title=New AU anthem, flag not attracting much interest|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2003-04-22-new-au-anthem-flag-not-attracting-much-interest/|access-date=2022-01-04|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|date=2003-02-10|title=Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa|url=https://ocpa.irmo.hr/activities/newsletter/2003/OCPA_News_No78_20030210.pdf|access-date=2022-01-04|website=ocpa.irmo.hr}}
The competition did not attract many participants; eventually, it was abandoned and the old OAU symbols were instead retained as the new symbols for the AU{{Cite web|title=African Union|url=http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/int-oau.html|access-date=2022-01-04|website=fotw.fivestarflags.com}} (including the OAU anthem, which was retained as the anthem of the new bloc).{{Cite book|last=Kidula|first=Jean Ngoya|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/856868782|title=Music in Kenyan Christianity : Logooli Religious Song.|date=2013|isbn=978-0-253-00702-5|location=Bloomington, IN|pages=264|oclc=856868782}}{{Cite news|last=McKinley|first=Jesse|date=2006-03-09|title=Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, Ethiopian Poet Laureate, Dies at 69|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/arts/tsegaye-gabremedhin-ethiopian-poet-laureate-dies-at-69.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225055542/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/arts/tsegaye-gabremedhin-ethiopian-poet-laureate-dies-at-69.html|archive-date=2021-12-25|issn=0362-4331}}
Lyrics
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" |
| English version{{Cite web|title=African Union Anthem|url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/31823-file-au_anthem_final.pdf|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www,au.int}} |
|---|
| style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
| Let us all unite and celebrate together The victories won for our liberation Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together To defend our liberty and unity {{small|Chorus:}} O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life II Let us all unite and sing together To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together For lasting peace and justice on earth {{small|Chorus}} III Let us all unite and toil together To give the best we have to Africa The cradle of mankind and fount of culture Our pride and hope at break of dawn. {{small|Chorus}} | هيا بنا لتوحيد صفوفنا والاحتفال بالانتصارات املحققة لتحريرنا كرجل واحد هيا بنا جميعا للدفاع عن حريتنا ووحدتنا {{small|كورال:}} {{yesitalic|يا أبناء وبنات أفريقيا لب الشمس وكبد السماء أفريقيا شجرة الحياة}} II هيا بنا لتوحيد صفوفنا بالاناشيد نرفع اصواتنا بالروابط نقرر مصيرنا للكفاح نكرس حياتنا من أجل السلام على اراضينا {{yesitalic|{{small|كورال}}}} III هيا بنا لتوحيد صفوفنا والعمل بكل ما في وسعنا في سبيل أفريقيا نضحي بأنفسنا مهد البشر أفريقيا هي عزتنا والفجر أملنا {{yesitalic|{{small|كورال}}}}}} | Unissons-nous tous et célébrons ensemble, Les victoires de notre libération. Engageons-nous et levons-nous tous comme un seul homme, Pour défendre notre liberté et unité. {{small|Refrain:}} {{yesitalic|Oh Chers fils et filles de l'Afrique, Chair du Soleil et Chair du Ciel, Faisons de l'Afrique l'Arbre de Vie.}} II Unissons-nous et chantons tous ensemble, Pour maintenir les liens de notre destin. Consacrons-nous et combattons tous comme un seul homme, Pour la paix et la justice durables sur terre. {{yesitalic|{{small|Refrain}}}} III Unissons-nous et travaillons dur ensemble, Pour donner le meilleur de nous à l'Afrique, Berceau de l'humanité et source de la culture, Notre fierté et l´espérance au levé du jour. {{yesitalic|{{small|Refrain}}}}}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070318013405/http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/AboutAU/AUSymbols/ausymbols.htm African Union page on its symbols]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150915041714/http://www.africamasterweb.com/AuAnthem.html African Union Anthem]
{{African Union}}
{{National Anthems of Africa}}