FRENCH LYRICS

Debout Congolais
Unis par le sort
Unis dans l'effort pour l'indépendance
Dressons nos fronts
Longtemps courbés
Et pour de bon
Prenons
Le plus bel élan
Dans la paix
 
Ô Peuple ardent
Par le labeur
Nous bâtirons un pays plus beau qu'avant
Dans la paix
 
Citoyens,
Entonnez
L'hymne sacré de votre solidarité
Fièrement
Saluez
L'emblème d'or de votre souveraineté
Congo
 
Don béni, (Congo)
Des aïeux, (Congo)
Ô Pays, (Congo)
Bien aimé, (Congo)
 
Nous peuplerons ton sol
Et nous assurerons ta grandeur
 
(Trente juin), Ô doux soleil
(Trente juin), du trente juin
(Jour sacré), sois le témoin
(Jour sacré) de l'immortel serment de liberté
Que nous léguons
A notre postérité
Pour toujours. 

--
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

CHOIR
Arise, Congolese, united by fate,
United in the struggle for independence,
Let us hold up our heads, so long bowed,
And now, for good, let us keep moving boldly ahead, in peace.
Oh, ardent people, by hard work we shall build,
In peace, a country more beautiful than before.

VERSE
Countrymen, sing the sacred hymn of your solidarity,
Proudly salute the golden emblem of your soverignity, Congo.

REFRAIN*
Blessed gift (Congo) of our forefathers (Congo),
Oh (Congo) beloved country (Congo),
We shall people your soil and ensure your greatness.
(30th June) Oh gentle sun (30th June) of 30th June,
(Sacred day) Be witness (sacred day) of the immortal oath of freedom
That we hand on to our children for ever.


*The bracketed words are marked for singing by Choir, the rest being marked for singing by "Soloists"

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Congo, Democratic Republic
"Debout Kongolaise" (Arise Congolese)

Words by:Joseph Lutumba
Music by:Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi
Adopted:1960, replaced 1972, restored 1997

Congo first adopted its anthem upon independence in 1960. Also known as Congo
(Kinshasa), after the capital city, to differentiate it from its neighbour to
the west of the same name, the anthem was kept until 1972, when the national
symbols were changed and the country's name was changed to Zaire. A coup in
1997 restored the national symbols, including the name and anthem, back to the
symbols adopted upon independence. (Interestingly, the author and composer also
wrote Zaire's anthem!)

See also: Katanga, Zaire.

MUSIC
