Liberia
All Hail, Liberia, Hail!
1847
1847
Daniel Bashiel Warner
Olmstead Luca
🕊 Freedom ✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland |
Context
One of the oldest national anthems in Africa, adopted when Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed American slaves. The anthem was written by Daniel Bashiel Warner, who later became Liberia's third president. Its style and language closely mirror American patriotic songs of the era, reflecting the founders' origins in the United States.
Lyrics
All hail, Liberia, hail!
All hail, Liberia, hail!
This glorious land of liberty
Shall long be ours.
Though new her name,
Green be her fame,
And mighty be her powers.
In joy and gladness
With our hearts united,
We'll shout the freedom
Of a race benighted.
Long live Liberia, happy land!
A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • Adopted in 1847, this is one of the oldest national anthems in Africa, predating most European anthems
- • Written by Daniel Bashiel Warner, who served as Liberia's third president (1864-1868) and was himself descended from freed American slaves
- • The anthem's musical style is distinctly American, reflecting that Liberia was founded by formerly enslaved African Americans who returned to Africa