Rise, O voices of Rhodesia,
God may we thy bounty share,
Give us strength to face all danger and,
Where challenge is, to dare.

Guide us, Lord, to wise decision,
Ever of thy grace aware,
Oh, let our hearts beat bravely always,
For this land within thy care.

Rise, O voices of Rhodesia,
Bringing her your proud acclaim,
Grandly echoing through the mountains,
Rolling over far flung plain.

Roaring in the mighty rivers,
Joining in one grand refrain,
Ascending to the sunlit heavens,
Telling of her honoured name.


-------------------------

Rhodesia
"Rise O Voices of Rhodesia"

Words by:Mary Bloom
Music by:Ludwig von Beethoven
In use:1974-1979

The National Anthem of the Republic of Rhodesia was decided upon and introduced
after a national competition, on 26th August 1974. Using Beethoven's Ode to Joy
(which was also used at the time as the anthem of the European_Union, and still
is today) as the melody, the lyrics were composed by a South African born
resident of Gwelo. The white majority rule was ended in 1979 (when the country
was called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia), and the nation of Zimbabwe was created in 1980;
I am unsure whether this anthem was used in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia as the sole
national anthem, if it was a part of the anthem (perhaps combined with "God
Bless Africa", as is currently done in South_Africa), or if it was not used at
all.

Special thanks to:Bert H de la Houssaye for informing me of this anthem and to
Federico Vicini for some of the info.

See also: Zimbabwe.

