Cameroon National Anthem
Ô Cameroun, berceau de nos ancêtres
O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres
O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Ancestors
1928
1957
René Djam Afame, Samuel Minkio Bamba, Moïse Nyatte Nko'o (1928); revised 1970
René Djam Afame (disputed; also credited to Samuel Minkio Bamba)
🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🤝 Unity ❤ Love of homeland 🕊 Freedom |
Key Facts
- 1. The words began as a civics assignment in which the students were asked to express their hopes for Cameroon's future; according to one historical account, Afame then combined the best sentences into the two stanzas of the original text.
- 2. Sources differ on the composer: the Cameroonian embassy in Brussels credits Afame, while the same historical account says three student musicians each wrote a melody and Samuel Minkio Bamba's was chosen.
- 3. The song dates from 1928, almost three decades before it became the official anthem in 1957.
- 4. The text was revised in 1970, and Cameroon has official versions of the anthem in both French and English, its two official languages.
Cameroon National Anthem Lyrics
Ô 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.
Que tous tes enfants du Nord au Sud,
De l'Est à l'Ouest soient tout amour,
Te servir que ce soit leur seul but,
Pour remplir leur devoir toujours.
[Chorus]
Chère Patrie, terre chérie,
Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur,
Notre joie et notre vie,
À toi l'amour et le grand honneur.
Tu es la tombe où dorment nos pères,
Le jardin que nos aïeux ont cultivé.
Nous travaillons pour te rendre prospère,
Un beau jour enfin nous serons arrivés.
De l'Afrique sois fidèle enfant,
Et progresse toujours en paix,
Espérant que tes jeunes enfants
T'aimeront sans bornes à jamais.
[Chorus]
Chère Patrie, terre chérie,
Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur,
Notre joie et notre vie,
À toi l'amour et le grand honneur.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialThe words were written in 1928 by three students at the teacher-training school in Foulassi, René Djam Afame, Samuel Minkio Bamba and Moïse Nyatte Nko'o; sources differ on whether Afame or Bamba composed the melody. The song was adopted as the national anthem in 1957, before independence in 1960, and its text was revised in 1970. An official English version exists alongside the French one, reflecting the country's bilingual heritage.
Learn More
Sources & References
- Hymne national . Direction Générale des Impôts, Cameroun (impots.cm)
- Chant de Ralliement . fr.wikipedia.org
Source & Review
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- Official source verified
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