"" ("The Rallying Song"), also known as "" ("O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers") is 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 ...

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...

and former national anthem of

French Cameroon French Cameroon or French Cameroons (french: link=no, Cameroun) was a French mandate territory in Central Africa. It now forms part of the independent country of Cameroon. History Beginnings The area of present-day Cameroon came under German ...

History

The song was composed in 1928 by , who also wrote the lyrics along with and Moïse Nyatte Nko'o, all while they were students at the École Normale of . It was used on an unofficial basis in

beginning in 1948 before independence and officially adopted as the anthem of the territory in 1957. In 1960, the anthem was officially adopted by the new

Republic of Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; th ...

. In 1961, upon the accession of the former British

Southern Cameroons The Southern Cameroons was the southern part of the British League of Nations mandate territory of the British Cameroons in West Africa. Since 1961, it has been part of the Republic of Cameroon, where it makes up the Northwest Region and Sou ...

to the Republic of Cameroon, an English version was written by

Bernard Nsokika Fonlon Bernard Nsokika Fonlon (19 November 1924 – 27 August 1986) was a Cameroonian politician and educationist who worked on the development of bilingualism in Cameroon. Early life and education Bernard was born on 19 November 1924 at Kumbo ...

, which was later officially adopted in 1978. In 1970, the French lyrics were changed to remove some words such as ("barbarianism") and ("savagery"), reference to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

Lyrics

Current lyrics (1970–present)

Former lyrics (1957–1970)

Notes

References

External links

Cameroon: ''O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers'' - Audio of the national anthem of Cameroon, with information and lyricsarchive link

'Chant de Ralliement'/'The Rallying Song' MIDI
{{Authority control National anthems Cameroonian culture African anthems National anthem compositions in B-flat major 1928 songs