• Source: Nigeria, We Hail Thee

Nigeria, We Hail Thee is the national anthem of Nigeria. Dating to 1959, the lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams and the music was composed by Frances Benda. It was first used upon independence in 1960, until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978. "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was officially readopted on 29 May 2024.




History


"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was adopted as Nigeria's national anthem on 1 October 1960.
A competition was held to select the music and lyrics of the anthem. The winning lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Williams worked for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Welfare and donated her prize money to the Nigerian Red Cross.
Frances Benda composed the music for "Nigeria, We Hail Thee." In 2024, Tolu Ogunlesi identified that Benda was a pen name for Mrs Charles Kernot, a private music teacher and professional pianist at the Carol Hill School of Classical Ballet in London. Her composition was chosen by judges including Professor Fela Sowande, O. Omideyi, Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips, Wilberforce Echezona, M.C. Majekodunmi and H Lawson.
The song was used as the national anthem until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.
On 23 May 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill to relinquish "Arise, O Compatriots" and readopt "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". The bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2024.




Lyrics


INigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976.




Criticism


When "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first adopted in 1960, the new national anthem faced criticism for a number of reasons. The Daily Service, a newspaper run by the Yoruba organisation Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, started a campaign against the national anthem, which led to a committee being established to collect signatures as a petition.
Following its readoption in 2024, the song was again criticised for the lack of consultation in passing the law designating it as the national anthem and for what was perceived to be misplaced priorities by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Former education minister Oby Ezekwesili criticised the anthem's suitability, given the presence of "pejorative" words like "native land" and "tribes", and that she would continue to sing Arise, O Compatriots as the national anthem. A video of political activist Aisha Yesufu circulated online where she refused to recite "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the new national anthem.
Mohammed Tahir Monguno, chair of the parliamentary committee that pushed through the anthem's readoption, said that the change was "apt, timely and important", while Tinubu said the anthem symbolised Nigeria's diversity.




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Arise, O Compatriots
• Daftar lagu kebangsaan di dunia
• Nigeria, We Hail Thee
• Arise, O Compatriots
• National symbols of Nigeria
• 2024 in Nigeria
• Pa Odiase
• 2014 National Conference, Nigeria
• Military dictatorship in Nigeria
• Nigeria
• List of national anthems
• Federation of Nigeria