Facts about Nigeria's Old and New National Anthem

Hello compatriot,

   I'm sure you're very familiar with the Nigerian national anthem "Arise, O Compatriot" of course you are 😀😀 but do you know that we had an anthem that became unpopular and then we adopted this current anthem?.

    Well, we'd be looking into the facts surrounding the old and new anthem,why that one became archaic and why we have a new anthem.

  NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE

1

   Nigeria we hail thee,

Our own dear native land,

Though tribe and tongue may differ,

In brotherhood we stand,

Nigerians all, are proud to serve

Our sovereign Motherland.

2

   Our flag shall be a symbol

That truth and justice reign,

In peace or battle honour'd,

And this we count as gain,

To hand on to our children

A banner without stain.

3

   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 may be blessed.

    The first Nigerian anthem was called “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”. Its lyrics were written  by Lilian Jean Williams a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria at the time  while the  music of the anthem was composed  by Frances Berda another British expatriate. This anthem was adopted in 1960 during the celebration of the country's Independence.

 

Lilian Jean Williams  

                                                  
   However,in 1978 the anthem was substituted with a new one "Arise, O Compatriots" as a result of criticisms which arose  owing to the fact that the composers were Britons and not Nigerians and  that the lyrics of the anthem  were colonial in nature  and did not give a feeling of the newly gained freedom or liberation. Hence, The Daily Service, a newspaper owned by the Egbé Omo Oduduwa launched a campaign in opposition to the national anthem and further setup a committee which collected signatures as petition against the anthem.

    With the committee and petition set in place by the Egbé Omo Oduduwa the demand for a new national anthem became a national demand. Hence a national contest was held in 1978 in search of a new anthem in which 1499 entries were submitted but only five most expressive and impressive were selected and each of the five writers namely; John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe,were rewarded N1,000 for their intellectual and patriotic efforts.

Benedict Odiase

   When the lyrics were put together Benedict Odiase, the then Assistant Commissioner of Police and director of the Nigerian Police band composed the music.

 ARISE, O COMPATRIOTS
1

   Arise, O Compatriots,

Nigeria's call obey

To serve our Fatherland

With love and strength and faith.

The labour of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain,

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

2

   O God of creation,

Direct our noble cause;

Guide our Leaders right:

Help our Youth the truth to know,

In love and honesty to grow,

And living just and true,

Great lofty heights attain,

To build a nation where peace and justice reign.

   The current national anthem, with only two simple stanza's touches on themes ranging from a call to responsibility, freedom,  peace and unity, love, truth, generations to come and what can be done to keep the hearts of the youths in the nation's noble cause.

References:

Www.oldnaija.com. 

Nigeria's national anthem c composer Pa Ben Odiase dies. Gazellenews 2013/06/12.A
Dr. Raphael James blog.