Democratic Republic of the Congo
Debout Congolais
Stand Up, Congolese
1960
1960
Joseph Lutumba
Simon-Pierre Boka di Mpasi Londi
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace |
Context
Adopted at independence from Belgium in 1960, the anthem was restored in 1997 after being replaced during the Mobutu era (1971-1997), when the country was known as Zaire and used a different anthem. The restoration of the original anthem symbolized the country's return to its founding identity.
Lyrics
Debout Congolais,
Unis par le sort,
Unis dans l'effort pour l'independance,
Dressons nos fronts longtemps courbes
Et pour de bon, prenons le plus bel elan,
Dans la paix.
O peuple ardent, par le labeur,
Nous batirons un pays plus beau qu'avant,
Dans la paix.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • The anthem was dropped during the Mobutu era when the country was renamed Zaire, and a new anthem 'La Zaïroise' was used instead
- • When Mobutu was overthrown in 1997, the original anthem was immediately restored alongside the country's original name
- • The anthem's emphasis on peace is poignant given the country's troubled history of conflict