La Renaissance

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La Renaissance
English: The Renaissance
National Anthem of Flag of the Central African Republic Central African Republic
Lyrics Barthélémy Boganda
Music Herbert Pepper
Adopted 1960

"La Renaissance" is the national anthem of the Central African Republic, adopted upon independence in 1960. The words were written by the then Prime Minister, Barthélémy Boganda. The music was composed by Herbert Pepper, who also composed the national anthem of Senegal, "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons".

There is also a version in the Sango language entitled "E Zingo".

[edit] French lyrics and English translation

Ô Centrafrique, ô berceau des Bantous!
Reprends ton droit au respect, à la vie!
Longtemps soumis, longtemps brimé par tous,
Mais de ce jour brisant la tyrannie.
Dans le travail, l'ordre et la dignité,
Tu reconquiers ton droit, ton unité,
Et pour franchir cette étape nouvelle,
De nos ancêtres la voix nous appelle.

Oh! Central Africa, cradle of the Bantu!
Take up again your right to respect, to life!
Long subjugated, long scorned by all,
But, from today, breaking tyranny's hold.
Through work, order and dignity
You reconquer your rights, your unity,
And to take this new step
The voice of our ancestors call us.

CHORUS:
Au travail dans l'ordre et la dignité,
Dans le respect du droit dans l'unité,
Brisant la misère et la tyrannie,
Brandissant l'étendard de la Patrie.

CHORUS:
To work! In order and dignity,
in the respect for rights and in unity,
Breaking poverty and tyranny,
Holding high the flag of the Fatherland.

[edit] Sango lyrics

Bêafrîka, mbeso tî âBantu
Kîri mo gbû gîgî tî mo-mvenî
Mo bâa pâsi na gbe tî âzo kûê
Me fadësô, mo ke na kürü gô

Mo sö benda, mo bûngbi kûê ôko
Na kusâra ngâ na nëngö-terê
Tî tö ndâ tî finî dutï tî ë sô
E mä gbegô tî_âkötarä tî ë

CHORUS:
E gbû kua nzönî na nëngö-terê
E kpë ndiä nzönî na mängö-terê
E kinda wasïöbê, ë tomba pâsi
E yâa bandêra tî ködrö tî ë!