Word: anthem
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...National Anthem of Western Samoa...
...More Moonlight. For some nations, having an anthem at all seems almost as improbable as some of the verses. Many African tribesmen, for example, are unaware that they are members of a nation, much less that they have a song to rise to. Nevertheless, the anthem is something no independent state can do without. Even if national pride did not demand one, international protocol would, and both the British and French, who between them have launched most of the world's new nations, have seen to it that even such remote places as Upper Volta have something to play...
...budding governments have composed their own. Senegal's anthem ("The red Lion has roared/The Tamer of the Bush has jumped forward") was written by Poet-President Leopold Senghor, Jamaica's by the Minister of Industry, the Ivory Coast's by its Information Minister. Malaysia expropriated an Indonesian love song called Moonlight, changed the words, then banned the original version. Kenya's solution was to graft the hymnlike words of one proposed anthem ("O God of all creation/Bless this our land and nation") onto the music of a Pokomo tribal lullaby...
...Many Tongues. The creation of anthems is particularly difficult in Africa, where skilled composers are rare. Some governments have asked their former colonial masters to write their anthems for them; one Frenchman composed the tunes for two West African states. Seven African anthems have been produced by local priests. Seven nations held anthem contests, with the winners being judged either by governmental decision or popular poll. Two English ladies won the Nigerian contest; and in Malawi, where the winner was a native organist, the government was so delighted with his effort ("Put down each and every enemy/ Hunger, disease, envy...
Lyrics are often the most serious problem. Zambia had no trouble deciding on an ancient African air for its melody, but needed verses which would rhyme in English and in its four major tribal tongues. To help the 250 entrants in its anthem contest remember the tune, the government ordered all Zambia radio stations to play it for three weeks. In Nigeria, where 250 languages are spoken, and in Ghana, where there are 56, the governments gave up and called for lyrics only in English; the anthems of most of former French Africa are written only in French...