By Henry Kyambalesa
This article is about suggested revisions to the lyrics of the National Anthem of the Republic of Zambia following the observations of some recipients of the original article.
Firstly, we need to change “for the right” in Part I of the Anthem to “for our rights.” Secondly, as Mr. Belly Dubeka has suggested, “Africa” at the beginning of Part II of the Anthem should be replaced by “Zambia.”
This makes sense because the Anthem is, after all, not for “Africa” but for the Republic of Zambia.
Thirdly, we need to add the following soon after the “Brothers under the sun” line in Part II: “Si’ters under the sun,” where “Si’ters” would represent “Sisters.” Fourthly, we need to change the “is our cry” in the first line of Part III to “are our cry.”
And fifthly, we need to change the “Free men we stand” in the chorus to “Free ‘zens we stand,” where “‘zens” would represent “citizens.” Alternately, as Oliebenthal has suggested, we may replace the “Free men we stand” by “Freely we stand.”
We need to seriously consider the prospect of making the foregoing minor changes to our beloved country’s National Anthem mainly to make it more gender-neutral, and to correct the apparent grammatical errors in the current lyrics.
The new era National Anthem for the Republic of Zambia should, therefore, be read and/or sung as follows with the suggested changes placed in brackets:
“Stand and sing of Zambia, proud and free,
Land of work and joy in unity,
Victors in the struggle for [our rights],
We’ve won freedom’s fight.
All one, strong and free.
[Zambia] is our own motherland,
Fashion’d with and blessed by God’s good hand,
Let us all her people join as one,
Brothers under the sun,
[Si’ters under the sun],
All one, strong and free.
One land and one nation [are] our cry,
Dignity and peace ‘neath Zambia’s sky,
Like our noble eagle in its flight,
Zambia, praise to thee.
All one, strong and free.
Chorus:
Praise be to God,
Praise be, praise be, praise be,
Bless our great nation,
Zambia, Zambia, Zambia.
[Freely] we stand,
Under the flag of our land.
Zambia, praise to thee!
All one, strong and free.”
The next generation of our fellow citizens needs to inherit the foregoing Anthem for our beloved country.
What’s in the National Anthem? Zambia has had 2 national anthems, one that was in praise of the Queen of England and the current one. Before that there never any such song. If you explain the substance of the anthem and compare if our nation missed anything before the British introduced one then we’ll understand your point of view. Otherwise it’s immaterial whether change or we don’t. And anyway I don’t think that this discussion is necessary
I have noticed on ZNBC Tv just before the !9:00 hrs main news,they usually show sentiments about patriotism and national features.Please tell them to be broadcasting the entire national anthem in both song and lyrics for our children to learn.It is always embarrassing to watch our national team players and other athletes failing to mime the national anthem played at international tournaments
DejaFul can also learn our anthem.He always singing”……….three ministers,under the fly of our la Zambia…”,instead of “free men we stand under the flag of our land Zambia………”.Very dull
Why should we change our great national anthem in order to please 2% of the world population. ..Gender neutral meaning what…. ????? next thing you will say we should use pronouns…….
Leave our anthem alone, if you don’t like it leave Zambia and go the West where your BS will be accepted
If You have nothing important to worry about please just keep quiet instead of bringing nonsensical discussions…..National Anthems were taught by imperialist….this is not an African idea so stop bringing up this topic…Zambians have better things to worry about instead of worrying about a useless song in 2023….Zambians need to worry about development and keeping our cities clean
I actually doubt the purpose of this. The man does not always mean ‘male person,’ in language. When the Bible says, “God made man in His own image, it doesn’t literally imply ‘male person,’ but human race. As for the word Africa, our African continent is physical, Zambia is bordered by imaginary lines created during the scramble for Africa. So boundaries don’t define an African origin.
Bentrust has demanded hh changes our anthem. Fuseke just deal with mealie meal prices
Mealie meal prices will be fix be patient after the huge mess your PF left cannot be fixed that quickly
At least the farmers have been satisfied with a better price,
# Henry Kyambalesa
In your 1st article on the National Anthem, you claimed that the Anthem was a “Christian” song. I “reminded” you – that the word Lord in the Anthem refers to God the creator, who is “neither” Christian, Jewish, Moslem etc. Religions were created by men & women. Christianity is teachings based on Jesus. Islam is based Prophet Mohammed. Judaism is based on Moses who rescued Jewish people from Egypt.
(What Gender Nuetral ? ) If a person says; God created man. It means, including “man & woman.” Homonyms are words that sound the “same” or are “spelled” the same but have different meanings. Brothers in the Anthem represents (man & woman).
@ INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
…… yours is a perfect illustration………………….
I just finished reading the original article. It does not say that the Anthem is a Christian song; rather, it says that the Anthem is based on a Christian hymn by a South African clergyman. Take time to read it again.
Edit the national flag as well!
The national anthem was written by our first president who never went past form 2. He drew the coat of arms as well as designing our flag. Until we have working archives we will always this KK got us independence.
KK drew the coat of arms ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT
Wrong!! The rylics were written by Mr Seal our science teacher at Munali and others.
Tell Kyambalesa that the lyrics are written in verse(poetic language) and not in prose. Each word has a special significance . Mixing prose and verse is as good as deleting the whole work.
We have more important things to worry about than changing a few words in the national anthem.
National athem is OK . Note ..we as free men we stand not freely we stand. Free man means where ever you go and what ever you are ,your are free. Freely we stand its like its just a moment when we are standing to sing..Flag is the one to change…colour black is racist. How are white and Asian Zambians feeling. Imagine on American or British flag they put white representing white people
What a waste of time