"" ("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 European ...

Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

and former national anthem of

French Cameroon French Cameroon, also known as the French Cameroons (), was a French mandate territory in Central Africa. It now forms part of the independent country of Cameroon. Eastern part of the former German colony of Cameroon (). Its status, from ...

History

The song was composed in 1928 by René Jam Afane who also wrote the lyrics along with and Moïse Nyatte Nko'o, all while they were students at the

École Normale École or Ecole may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * Éco ...

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, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

. 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 Southw ...

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 Fonlon was born on 19 November 1924 at ...

, 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 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 ...

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 Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Lyrics

The first verse and chorus are considered to be the official lyrics and are most frequently played at important occasions.

Current lyrics (1970–present)

In local languages

The anthem has also been translated into several local languages.

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 Culture of Cameroon African anthems Compositions in B-flat major 1928 songs