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{{Short description|National anthem of Nigeria}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = Nigeria, We Hail Thee
| english_title = 
| image         = File:Coat of arms of Nigeria.svg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = The [[coat of arms of Nigeria]]
| prefix        = National
| country       = {{NGA}}
| author        = Lillian Jean Williams<ref>{{cite web | url=https://punchng.com/breaking-standardised-lyrics-of-reintroduced-national-anthem-released/ | title=Standardised lyrics of reintroduced National Anthem released | date=5 June 2024 }}</ref>
| lyrics_date   = 1959
| composer      = Frances Benda
| music_date    = 1959
| adopted       = {{Start date|1960|10|1|df=yes}}
| until         = {{End date|1978|10|1|df=yes}}
| readopted     = {{Start date|2024|5|29|df=yes}}
| predecessor   = [[Arise, O Compatriots]]
| sound         = Nigeria We Hail Thee.ogg
| sound_title   = Nigeria, We Hail Thee
}}
'''Nigeria, We Hail Thee''' is the [[national anthem]] of [[Nigeria]]. Dating to 1959, the lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams and the music was composed by Frances Benda. It was first used upon [[Nigerian Independence|independence]] in 1960, the anthem was said to be frowned upon by the military regime until it was replaced by "[[Arise, O Compatriots]]" in 1978.<ref name=gn>{{cite news |title=Nigeria's National Anthem Composer, Pa Ben Odiase, Dies |url=http://www.thegazellenews.com/2013/06/12/nigerias-national-anthem-composer-pa-ben-odiase-dies/ |work=Gazelle News |date=2013-06-12 |access-date=2013-07-08 |archive-date=2017-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112428/http://www.thegazellenews.com/2013/06/12/nigerias-national-anthem-composer-pa-ben-odiase-dies/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was officially readopted on 29 May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Akpan |first=Samuel |date=29 May 2024 |title=Tinubu signs bill returning old national anthem into law |url=https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-tinubu-signs-bill-to-reintroduce-old-national-anthem-into-law/ |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=The Cable}}</ref>

==History==
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was adopted as Nigeria's national anthem on 1 October 1960.

A competition was held to select the music and [[lyrics]] of the anthem. The winning lyrics were written by [[Lillian Jean Williams]], a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[expatriate]] who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Williams worked for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Welfare and donated her prize money to the [[Nigerian Red Cross Society|Nigerian Red Cross]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Omosola |first=Friday |date=2024-05-31 |title=Nigeria: How Frances Benda, Not Frances Berda, Composed 'Nigeria We Hail Thee' |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202405310048.html |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=Premium Times |language=en}}</ref>

[[Frances Benda]] composed the music for "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."<ref name="dmirror" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Omosola |first=Friday |date=2024-05-30 |title=How Frances Benda, not Frances Berda, composed 'Nigeria We Hail Thee' |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/699183-how-frances-benda-not-frances-berda-composed-nigeria-we-hail-thee.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, [[Tolu Ogunlesi]] identified that Benda was a pen name for Mrs Charles Kernot, a private music teacher and professional pianist at the Carol Hill School of Classical Ballet in London.<ref name=":0" /> Her composition was chosen by judges including [[Fela Sowande|Professor Fela Sowande]], O. Omideyi, [[Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips]], [[Wilberforce Echezona]], M.C. Majekodunmi and H Lawson.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 2024 |title=National Anthem and the Military Legacy |work=This Day |location=Lagos}}</ref>

The song was used as the national anthem until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.<ref name="dmirror">{{cite news|title=Goodnight, Pa Benedict Odiase (1934 – 2013)|url=http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/goodnight-pa-benedict-odiase-1934-2013/|work=[[National Mirror]]|date=2013-06-30|access-date=2013-07-08|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704153543/http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/goodnight-pa-benedict-odiase-1934-2013/|archive-date=2013-07-04}}</ref>

On 23 May 2024, the [[National Assembly (Nigeria)|National Assembly]] passed a bill to relinquish "Arise, O Compatriots" and readopt "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". The bill was signed into law by President [[Bola Tinubu]] on 29 May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-29 |title=Nigeria's new-old national anthem sparks outrage after it is signed by Bola Tinubu |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg7z0n4jxo |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Mohammed Tahir Monguno]], chair of the parliamentary committee that led the anthem's readoption, said that the change was "apt, timely and important", while Tinubu said the anthem symbolised Nigeria's diversity.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news |date=29 May 2024 |title=Outrage as Nigeria changes national anthem |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg7z0n4jxo |access-date=29 May 2024 |work=BBC |language=en-UK}}</ref><ref name="ap">{{Cite news |date=30 May 2024 |title=Nigeria's new anthem, written by a Briton, sparks criticism after a contentious law is passed |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-new-national-anthem-6baee249c05b22d506873d42d9eebdec |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{| class="wikitable"
!English original
!Yoruba translation<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=atzP1UaP9BjF95kD&v=oezCOfY8UCg&feature=youtu.be | title=Nigeria anthem - Yoruba version | website=[[YouTube]] | date=24 October 2024 }}</ref>
!Igbo translation

!Hausa translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>'''I'''
Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though [[List of ethnic groups in Nigeria|tribe]] and [[Languages of Nigeria|tongue]] may differ,
In brotherhood we stand
[[Demographics of Nigeria|Nigerians all]],
And proud to serve our sovereign Motherland.

'''II'''
Our [[Flag of Nigeria|flag]] shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honoured,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.

'''III'''
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request:
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.</poem>
|<poem>{{lang|yo|italics=no|'''I'''
Nàìjíríà a kí ọ,
Ilẹ̀ ìbí wa ọ̀wọ́n,
Ẹyà àti èdè le yàtọ̀,
A dúró ní 'ṣọ̀kan,
Gbogbo wa la ó fayọ̀ sin,
Ilẹ̀ 'bí wa ọ̀wọ́n.

'''II'''
Àsìá wa yóò j'ámì,
Pé òtító àti ìse dédé ló ń jọba
Nígbà àlàáfíà,
Tàbi ogun, èyí yóò j'ẹ́rè wa,
Láti fi lé ọmọ lọ́wọ́,
Àsìá 'làìlábàwọ́n.

'''III'''
Ọlọ́run gbogbo ẹ̀dá,
Gbọ́ àdúrà wa yìí,
Jẹ̀ ká ní orílẹ̀-èdè,
Níbi ìrẹ́jẹ kòsí,
K'àlàfíà àti ọ̀pọ̀,
Jẹ́' 'bùkún Nàìjíríà.}}</poem>
|<poem>{{lang|ig|italics=no|'''I'''
Nigeria, anyi ekene gi,
Ala nna anyị nke ọma,
Ọ bụ ezie na ebo na asụsụ
nwere ike ịdị iche.
Na òtù ụmụnna anyị na-eguzo
Ndi Naijiria nile, Obi dị anyị ụtọ
ijere ala nna anyị ozi.

'''II'''
Ọkọlọtọ anyị ga-abụ akara
Na eziokwu na ikpe ziri ezi na-achị,
N'udo ma ọ bụ agha a na-asọpụrụ,
Na nke a anyị na-agụ dị ka uru,
Iji nyefee ụmụ anyị
Ọkọlọtọ na-enweghị ntụpọ.

'''III'''
Chineke nke ihe nile,
Nye nke a otu arịrịọ anyị:
Nyere anyi aka wuo mba
Ebe a na-emegbu mmadụ,
Ya mere, udo na ụbara
Nigeria nwere ike gọzie.}}</poem>
|<poem>{{lang|ha|italics=no|'''I'''
Nigeria muna jinjina muku
Namu masoyi ƙasar haihuwa
Ko da yake kabilanci da harshe na iya bambanta
A cikin 'yan uwantaka mun tsaya
'Yan Najeriya duka, suna alfahari da yin hidima.
Mahaifiyar mu mai martaba.

'''II'''
Tutar mu za ta zama alama
Wannan gaskiya da adalci suna mulki
A cikin aminci ko yaƙi girmama',
Kuma wannan muna ƙidaya a matsayin riba,
Don mika wa yaranmu
Banner ba tare da tabo ba.

'''III'''
Ya Ubangijin dukkan halitta
Ka ba da wannan buƙatunmu ɗaya.
A taimake mu mu gina kasa
Inda ba a zaluntar mutum ba
Haka kuma da zaman lafiya da yalwa
Najeriya na iya samun albarka.}}</poem>
|}

Nigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by [[Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mbamalu |first1=Socrates |title=Prof. Felicia Adeyoyin, Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Dies at 83 |url=https://fij.ng/article/prof-felicia-adeyoyin-author-of-nigerias-national-pledge-dies-at-83/ |publisher=Foundation For Investigative Journalism |date=3 May 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! English original
! Hausa translation
! Yoruba translation
! Tyap translation
|-
| <poem>I pledge to Nigeria, my country
To be faithful, loyal and honest 
To serve Nigeria with all my strength 
To defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory 
So help me, God.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nigerian National Anthem|url=http://nhcuk.dreamhosters.com/anthem|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Nigeria High Commission UK}}</ref></poem>
| <poem>Na yi wa Najeriya ƙasata alƙawarin 
Zan zama mai imani, mai biyayya da gaskiya
Zan yiwa Najeriya hidima da dukkan ƙarfina
Don kare hadin kanta da kuma kare mutuncinta da daukakarta
Ya Allah ka taimake ni.</poem>
| <poem>Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi
Lati jẹ ol loyaltọ aduroṣinṣin ati otitọ
Lati fi gbogbo ipa sin Nigeria
Lati daabobo isokan rẹ
Ki o si gbe iyi ati ogo rẹ ga
Nitorina ran mi lọwọ Ọlọrun.</poem>
| <poem>N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka.
N nyia̱ a̱cucuk, n nwuak a̱pyia̱ nung, n nyia̱ tsotswat.
N nyia̱ Naijeriya ta̱m ma̱ng a̱lyia̱ a̱nyiung.
N cok mun a̱pyia̱ nji hu.
A̱wot, n di̱n a̱ma shi nji hu ma̱ng yet nji hu,
Mat a̱nia, A̱gwaza beang nung.</poem>
|}

==Criticism==
When "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first adopted in 1960, the new national anthem faced criticism for a number{{quantify|date=June 2015}} of reasons. The ''Daily Service'', a newspaper run by the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] organisation [[Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà]], started a campaign against the national anthem, which led to a committee being established to collect signatures as a [[petition]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mphahlele|first1=Ezekiel|title=Nigeria on the Eve of Independence|journal=Africa Today|date=1960|volume=7|issue=6|pages=4–6|jstor=4184128}}</ref>

The anthem has been regarded as controversial, due to its association with the colonial government.<ref>Giginna, N. (2024) ''There is something so many people have not really understood from this new national anthem''. LinkedIn. [online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nnaemeka-giginna-048390108_there-is-something-so-many-people-have-not-activity-7201899561957646336-zlAt (Accessed: April 15th 2025).</ref> [[Obiageli Ezekwesili]], the former minister of education, declared that she would sing "Arise, O Compatriots" whenever the National Anthem was "called for", hashtagging her post with "#NotMyNationalAnthem".<ref>Ogunbewon, A. (2024) ''Ex-Minister Ezekwesili backs Aisha Yesufu’s #NotMyNationalAnthem The Nation Online Nigeria''. [online] Available at: https://thenationonlineng.net/ex-minister-ezekwesili-backs-aisha-yesufus-notmynationalanthem/ (Accessed: April 15th 2025).</ref>

Following its readoption in 2024, the song was again criticised for the lack of consultation in passing the law designating it as the national anthem and for what was perceived to be misplaced priorities by the administration of President [[Bola Tinubu]]. Former education minister [[Oby Ezekwesili]] criticised the anthem's suitability, given the presence of "pejorative" words like "native land" and "tribes", and that she would continue to sing ''[[Arise, O Compatriots]]'' as the national anthem.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="ap"/> A video of political activist [[Aisha Yesufu]] circulated online where she refused to recite "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the new national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opejobi |first=Seun |date=2024-06-01 |title=I'll never sing old national anthem - Ezekwesili backs Aisha Yesufu, tackles Tinubu |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/06/01/ill-never-sing-old-national-anthem-ezekwesili-backs-aisha-yesufu-tackles-tinubu/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{National anthems of Africa}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nigeria, We Hail Thee}}
[[Category:Songs about Nigeria]]
[[Category:National symbols of Nigeria]]
[[Category:African anthems]]
[[Category:1959 songs]]