Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: 22 Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire east of Gaza Strip
Palestinian Ministry of Health: 14 Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire near the Israeli-erected fence east of Gaza Strip
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Seven Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire east of Gaza Strip
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Israeli occupation prison administration transfers hunger-striking prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to solitary confinement in Asqalan prison
Head of Crimea: Russian air defenses shot down cruise missiles over Crimea.
Sevastopol Governor: Another attack on city still possible.
Governor of Russia's Sevastopol: Headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol comes under missile strike.
Chinese President: Beijing ready to develop cooperation with Syria and for joint defense of international justice amid instability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping while receiving his Syrian counterpart: China and Syria moving toward announcing strategic partnerships.
Algerian Foreign Minister: Africa's Sahel region has become a focal point for terrorist armies armed with the latest weapons, and in control of a large geographical region.

Bidding farewell to French colonialism, Niger ditches national anthem

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jun 2023 21:26
  • 1 Shares

The decision to alter the anthem was initially announced in 2019 after some criticism that the old anthem expresses gratitude to France.

  • Niger dumps French national anthem
    Emmanuel Macron and Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum attend a video summit with leaders of G5 Sahel countries at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on July 9, 2021 (AFP)

On Thursday, more than 60 years after its independence, Niger's parliament approved a new national anthem in an effort to free the country of any relics of French colonization.

According to Anadolu, quoting a legislative radio station that broadcast the discussions, a measure to alter the song from the French-composed "La Nigerienne" to "The Honor of the Fatherland" garnered overwhelming approval from parliamentarians.

Read more: France commits a new colonial environmental catastrophe in Niger

Former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou announced the decision to change the country's song in response to criticism that portions of the lyrics appeared to convey appreciation to the country's previous colonizer, such as the verse that states: “Let us be proud and grateful for our newfound freedom.”

Related News

Niger junta ends military agreement with Benin over troops deployment

Niger Junta says France deploying forces for military intervention

A committee was formed to make changes and compose a new anthem that reflects Niamey's current situation.

In 2022, a new Nigerien administration announced its intention to replace the anthem created by French musicians Maurice Albert Thiriet, Robert Jacquet, and Nicolas Abel Francois Frionnet in 1961, upon the West African nation's independence.

A panel of national professionals wrote the words for the new anthem.

In the late 1890s, France began colonizing Niger. The Sahel nation won independence in 1960 as part of a broader decolonization movement triggered by political upheavals and Paris' surrender of African territories.

France retained its colonies in Africa roughly until the 1960s, exercising its dominance over North, Western, and Equatorial Africa. Shortly after the formation of the Fifth French Republic in 1958, countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Congo, Chad, and the Central African Republic gained independence.

Despite this fact, Paris failed to completely abandon the region, continuing to intervene in its internal affairs, including by military means.

  • West Africa
  • Africa
  • France
  • Niger

Most Read

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

  • Europe
  • 16 Sep 2023
'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 16 Sep 2023
Old habits, linger … linger well past the time when old rituals (an Israeli PM visit to the Oval Office) had agency and the world hung on the outcome. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Arwa Makki)

Will a tripartite US-Saudi-Israeli ‘Deal’ make Any difference?

  • Opinion
  • 16 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
CAR leader blames West's 'plundering' of Africa for migrant crisis
Africa

West's pillage of Africa natural resources behind migrant crisis: CAR

US to strengthen border control with 800 additional troops.
US & Canada

US to fortify southern border control with 800 additional troops

French politican calls for stopping weapon shipments to Kiev
Europe

French politician demands no more weapons shipments to Kiev

France and Germany at odds once again over US arms
Europe

US arms purchases has France, Germany at odds, again

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS