Pa Benedict Odiase (August 25, 1934 – June 11, 2013) was a Nigerian composer who composed " Arise, O Compatriots," the

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and Europea ...

of Nigeria. "Arise, O Compatriots," which was adopted in 1978, replaced the country's previous national anthem, " Nigeria, We Hail Thee". Odiase was born in 1934, and raised in

British Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain a ...

, where Edo State is now. He served in the

Nigerian Police Force The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement and the lead security agency in Nigeria. Designated by the 1999 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country, as at 2016 it has a ...

from 1954 to 1992 and was also the Music Director of the Nigerian Police Band and the MId-West State Police Band. He was awarded the

Order of the Niger Nigeria became an independent country on 1 October 1960 and in 1963 became the Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Repu ...

in December 2001. Odiase died from a short illness on June 11, 2013, at the age of 78.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odiase, Pa 1934 births 2013 deaths Nigerian composers National anthem writers