Central African Republic
La Renaissance
The Renaissance
1960
1960
Barthelemy Boganda
Herbert Pepper
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope |
Context
Written by Barthelemy Boganda, the founding father of the Central African Republic, with music by Herbert Pepper. The anthem was adopted at independence in 1960. Boganda, who tragically died in 1959 before seeing independence, envisioned a united Central African state free from colonialism.
Lyrics
O Centrafrique, o berceau des Bantous!
Reprends ton droit au respect, a la vie!
Longtemps soumis, longtemps brime par tous,
Mais de ce jour brisant la tyrannie.
Dans le travail, l'ordre et la dignite,
Tu reconquiers ton droit, ton unite,
Et pour franchir cette etape nouvelle,
De nos ancetres la voix nous appelle.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • Barthelemy Boganda, who wrote the lyrics, died in a suspicious plane crash in 1959, one year before independence
- • Herbert Pepper, the French-born composer, also wrote anthems for several other former French colonies in Africa
- • The anthem's reference to the Bantu peoples emphasizes the shared heritage of Central Africa's diverse ethnic groups