God Bless Fiji

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Meda Dau Doka or God Bless Fiji is the national anthem of Fiji. The melody was adapted from a 1911 hymn by Charles Austin Miles entitled Dwelling in Beulah Land. The lyrics and music were composed by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott and adopted upon independence in 1970.

The English and Fijian lyrics are not translations of each other, and in fact have very little in common.

English lyrics

   Verse 1:
   Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
   As we stand united under noble banner blue
   And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
   Onward march together
   God bless Fiji

   CHORUS:
   For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
   For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
   A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befall
   May God bless Fiji
   Forever more!

   Verse 2
   Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
   Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
   Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
   Onward march together
   God bless Fiji.
   and so on and so forth

Fijian lyrics

   Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
   E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
   Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
   Biu na i tovo tawa savasava

   CHORUS:
   Me bula ga ko Viti
   Ka me toro ga ki liu
   Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu
   Me ra liutaki na tamata
   E na veika vinaka
   Me oti kina na i tovo ca

   Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
   E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
   Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
   Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga

   Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
   Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
   Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
   Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua

Fijian lyrics- Translated

   Let us show pride and honour our nation
   Where righteous people reside
   Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere 
   Abandon deeds that are immoral

   CHORUS:
   Let Fiji live on
   And progress onwards
   May our leaders be honourable men
   Let them lead our people
   To great things
   And bring an end to all things immoral

   Let us show pride and honour our nation
   Where righteous people reside
   Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere 
   Abandon deeds that are immoral

   The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji
   Be the strength to cleanse our nation
   Be wary and not harbour malice 
   For we must abandon such sentiments forever

Listen to the national anthem (opens in new window)[1]