There is almost no country without an anthem and Nigeria isn’t an exception. In this post, we’ll be telling you all you need to know about the national anthem. So sit back, relax and let’s take a brief but important journey back in time to when Nigeria had no National Anthem.
The first Nigerian national anthem was composed before Nigeria got her independence in 1960, and it was rendered as an independence gift to Nigeria by Lillian Jean Williams, a very popular British expatriate who was living in Nigeria, around the time. The music was composed by Frances Breda (also a British). The first Nigerian national anthem reads:
Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Through tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all are proud to serve
Our sovereign motherland;
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
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.
This anthem was adopted in the year 1960, and was going to be the one and only generally adopted anthem, except for constant criticism from different people. Quite a number of notable personalities in the country had reservations about a European, which was the same tribe as our colonial masters, gifting us our national anthem.
The main voice of discontentment was from the popular Nigerian newspaper – Daily Service, which was run by Egbé Omo Òduduwá a Yoruba group, known for “saying it as it is”.
They began a rebellious campaign against the national anthem, and their campaign led to the establishment of a committee which voiced it for notable personalities and any interested persons of the general public to sign a petition for or against the continued use of the national anthem.
In 1977, the petition was against the continued use of the national anthem. 1978 made it eighteen years that the old national anthem was in use and in 1978, a national contest to create a new anthem was organized by the National Publicity Committee and many entries were sent in, but only five was shortlisted.
The names of the writers of the shortlisted entries were Sotu Omoigui, B. A. Ogunnaike, John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, and P.O. Aderibigbe. Pieces of their words were put together to form what is now the national anthem we know today. At the time, Nigeria was under military rule and the music to the anthem was composed by the Nigerian Police Band, under the directorate of Benedict Elide Odiase. The anthem reads:
Arise, O compatriots
Nigeria’s call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom
Peace and unity.
Oh God of creation
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.
The “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem has since been the official national anthem of Nigeria since 1978 till today. Benedict Elide Odiase recently passed away on June 12, 2013 but his name (and the five composers’) would forever be attached and recalled, anytime the history of the national anthem is talked about.