Timor-Leste
Pátria
Patria
Fatherland
1975
2002
Francisco Borja da Costa
Afonso de Araujo
🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War 🕊 Freedom 🔥 Revolution |
Key Facts
- 1. The anthem is sung in Portuguese, making Timor-Leste one of only two sovereign nations in Asia (alongside Macau as a territory) with a Portuguese-language national song.
- 2. During the 24-year Indonesian occupation (1975-1999), singing 'Patria' was banned and could result in imprisonment, so Timorese sang it in secret as an act of resistance.
- 3. The anthem's melody was composed by Afonso de Araujo, and it uses a simple, hymn-like structure that was deliberately designed to be easy for ordinary citizens to sing without musical training.
Lyrics
Pátria, Pátria, Timor-Leste nossa Nação.
Glória ao povo e aos heróis da nossa libertação.
Pátria, Pátria, Timor-Leste nossa Nação.
Glória ao povo e aos heróis da nossa libertação.
Vencemos o colonialismo, gritamos:
Abaixo o imperialismo.
Terra livre, povo livre,
Não, não, não à exploração.
Avante unidos, firmes e decidídos.
Na luta contra o imperialismo,
O inimigo dos povos,
Até a vitória final.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten in 1975 during the brief independence between Portuguese rule and Indonesian invasion, the anthem's author Francisco Borja da Costa was killed by Indonesian forces just days after Timor-Leste's first declaration of independence.