O, Dawn of Liberty's Light

O, Dawn of Liberty's Light

National anthem of Batsweda
Lyrics	Ridwan al-Hassan, 1960
Music	Daouda Yossi, 1959
Adopted	24 December 1960
Readopted	27 September 2002
Relinquished	4 May 1971
Preceded by	March of the Batswedan Corps
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O, Dawn of Liberty's Light (Sahrabic: يا فجر نور الحرية, Yā faǧr nūr āl-Ḥuriya) is the national anthem of Batsweda. First adopted in 1960 after the country's independence from the Pepper Coast Company, the anthem was replaced in 1971 after the First Batswedan Civil War, before being reinstated in 2002 as part of the Jakasse Peace Accords.

History

The first draft of the music that would form "O, Dawn of Liberty's Light" came from composer Daouda Yossi in late 1959, who intended to compose a piece of music for a possible anthem for the then-unrecognized People's Republic of Batsweda. Lyrics from writer and future President Ridwan al-Hassan were written in mid-1960 after Yossi's tune became popular with the Batswedan Popular Front, with al-Hassan's lyrics composed in Anglish, Sahrabic (the lingua franca and future official languages of modern-day Batsweda) and Banno (the largest indigenous language in the country), as symbolic of Batsweda's linguistic and cultural diversity. Pan-Azanian imagery ("For this shining light; Blesses all of Azania") dominate the lyrics, influenced by the BPF's internationalism in the 1950s and 60s.

The composition was officially adopted as the national anthem on 24 December 1960, by an Act of Parliament which also officially adopted Batsweda's current flag. Due to the anthem's close connection to the BPF and pan-Azanianism, it was repealed on 4 May 1971 by the then-ruling military junta, with the March of the Batswedan Corps becoming the new national anthem in its place. As part of the Jakasse Peace Accords' attempts to remove symbols of the military regime after the Second Batswedan Civil War, "O, Dawn of Liberty's Light" was re-adopted as the national anthem on 27 September 2002, alongside a new coat of arms and transitional government.

Lyrics

First verse in Anglish
O, dawn of liberty’s light Guide thyself onto this blessed shore For from tyranny we wake Into the bright new day forevermore!
Second verse in Sahrabic (with transliteration and Anglish translation)
لهذا النور الساطع يبارك كل الزنج ونحن نقف معًا ونحن نقف معًا!	Lihaḏā āl-nuwr āl-sāṭiʿi Yubārik kulu āl-Zinǧ Wanaḥn naqif miʿān Wanaḥn naqif miʿān!	For this shining light Blesses all of Azania And together we stand And together we stand!
Third verse in Banno (with Anglish translation)
À cĩ́ nɔ̄, kpá dyí ké ɓúáìn Ɓáún-ɓáún mic-ɓěɔ̀ ké hwòɖǒ Séín fíɖíì-ce sí dúún Séín fíɖíì-ce sí dúún!		Here we live, triumphant and proud With many tongues and one heart For liberty’s light shines on all For liberty’s light shines on all!