"" (; "The Nigerien") is the former
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 European ...
of
Niger
Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...
. The lyrics are by
Maurice Albert Thiriet
Maurice Thiriet (; 2 May 1906 – 28 September 1972) was a French composer of classical and film music.
Biography
Born in Meulan, Yvelines, Maurice Thiriet attended the Paris Conservatory from 1925 to 1931, studying counterpoint and fugue with ...
; Robert Jacquet and Nicolas Abel François Frionnet wrote the music. It was adopted as Niger's anthem in 1961 and relinquished in 2023.
History
The anthem was written by French film composer
Maurice Albert Thiriet
Maurice Thiriet (; 2 May 1906 – 28 September 1972) was a French composer of classical and film music.
Biography
Born in Meulan, Yvelines, Maurice Thiriet attended the Paris Conservatory from 1925 to 1931, studying counterpoint and fugue with ...
. The music was composed by two other Frenchmen, Robert Jacquet and Nicolas Abel François Frionnet. It was adopted in 1961, a year after Niger gained independence from France.
On 21 November 2019, President
Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952) is a Nigerien politician who served as the president of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of the National Assembly from 1995 to ...
announced that he had decided to change the national anthem. The decision followed criticism that some of the lyrics appeared to express gratitude to the
former coloniser,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, with Nigeriens on social media challenging lines three and four. A committee chaired by Prime Minister
Brigi Rafini
Brigi Rafini (born 29 March 1953) is a politician in Niger who served as the Prime Minister of Niger from 2011 to 2021. A native of Iférouane in Agadez Region and an ethnic Tuareg,[The Honor of the Fatherland
The Honor of the Fatherland ( French "L'Honneur de la Patrie") is the national anthem of Niger. It was adopted on June 23, 2023, replacing '' La Nigerienne'', which was adopted in 1961, a year after the country's gaining of independence.
Hist ...]
'' as Niger's new anthem.
Lyrics
French original
Translations
References
Notes
External links
Niger: ''La Nigérienne'' - Audio of the national anthem of Niger, with information and lyricsarchive link
has lyrics, with an English translation.
Media
Vocal version (Recording from a radio station)Anthem finishes at 1:47
African anthems
Music of Niger
National symbols of Niger
Historical national anthems
{{Niger-stub