Benin
L'Aube Nouvelle
The New Dawn
1960
1960
Gilbert Jean Dagnon
Gilbert Jean Dagnon
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope |
Context
Adopted when Dahomey (now Benin) gained independence from France in 1960. The anthem survived the country's name change from Dahomey to Benin in 1975 under the Marxist-Leninist government of Mathieu Kerekou. Gilbert Jean Dagnon wrote both the lyrics and the music, making him one of the few anthem creators to compose a complete national anthem single-handedly.
Lyrics
Jadis à son appel, nos aïeux sans faiblesse
Ont su avec courage, ardeur, pleins d'allégresse
Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants.
Accourez vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent,
Plus forts dans l'unité, chaque jour à la tâche,
Pour la postérité, construisez sans relâche.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • Gilbert Jean Dagnon wrote both the words and the music, making him the sole creator of the complete anthem
- • The anthem survived the country's transition from Dahomey to the People's Republic of Benin in 1975 without any changes
- • The title 'The New Dawn' captures the optimism of the 1960 independence wave when 17 African nations gained independence in a single year