Senegal
Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons
Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons
1960
1960
Leopold Sedar Senghor
Herbert Pepper
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Context
Written by Leopold Sedar Senghor, who served as Senegal's first president (1960-1980) and was also a world-renowned poet and one of the founders of the Negritude literary movement. The anthem is unique in its references to traditional West African instruments (the kora and balafon) and the Lion of Senegal symbol. The music was composed by French ethnomusicologist Herbert Pepper.
Lyrics
Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons.
Le lion rouge a rugi.
Le dompteur de la brousse
D'un bond s'est elance,
Dissipant les tenebres.
Soleil sur nos terreurs, soleil sur notre espoir.
Debout, freres, voici l'Afrique rassemblee.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • Leopold Sedar Senghor, who wrote the lyrics, was the first African elected to the Academie francaise and is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century
- • The anthem directly references traditional instruments: the kora (a 21-string harp) and the balafon (a wooden xylophone), both central to West African griot culture
- • The 'red lion' in the anthem is Senegal's national symbol, and the country's football team is known as the Lions of Teranga