Nigeria adopts new anthem
Date
7/22/2024 8:15:37 AM
(MENAFN) In May, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu signed a bill into law that restored the country's old national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," which was in use during its early independence years. This decision has sparked widespread debate and concern, marking a significant and contentious shift from the anthem "Arise, O Compatriots," which had been in place since 1978. The move, executed with unprecedented legislative speed, was intended to rekindle a sense of national unity. However, it has instead ignited a fierce debate, highlighting deep-seated tensions about national identity, colonial legacies, and governance in Nigeria.
The issue of Nigeria's national anthem is deeply intertwined with the country's colonial history. The name "Nigeria" itself is a product of Western imperialism, coined during the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. The term was created by Flora Shaw, a British journalist and strong advocate of imperialism, to describe the "Niger Area," a region administered by the Royal Niger Company. Shaw later married Fredrick Lugard, a British colonial governor, whose name is a poignant reminder of Nigeria's colonial past.
Nigeria's original national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," was adopted on October 1, 1960, the day the country gained independence. This anthem bore the unmistakable influence of its colonial origins, with its authors reflecting the colonial context of their time. The reinstatement of this anthem has revived discussions about the lingering impact of colonialism and the ongoing struggle to forge a cohesive national identity amidst a complex historical legacy.
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