La Dessalinienne

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National anthem of Haiti

title: "La Dessalinienne" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["north-american-anthems", "national-symbols-of-haiti", "1904-compositions", "haitian-songs", "songs-in-french", "national-anthems", "compositions-in-b-flat-major"] description: "National anthem of Haiti" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Dessalinienne" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary National anthem of Haiti ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox anthem"]

FieldValue
title
english_title'The Dessaline'
alt_title
imageLa Dessalinienne - Hymne National.jpg
captionSheet music
prefixNational
countryHaiti
authorJustin Lhérisson
lyrics_date1903
composerNicolas Geffrard
music_date1903
adopted
soundHaiti National Anthem.ogg
sound_titleU.S. Navy Band instrumental rendition in B-flat major
::

| title = | english_title = 'The Dessaline' | alt_title = | image = La Dessalinienne - Hymne National.jpg | image_size = | caption = Sheet music | prefix = National | country = Haiti | author = Justin Lhérisson | lyrics_date = 1903 | composer = Nicolas Geffrard | music_date = 1903 | adopted = | sound = Haiti National Anthem.ogg | sound_title = U.S. Navy Band instrumental rendition in B-flat major}}

"****" (; ) is the national anthem of Haiti. This march was written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard.

Etymology

"La Dessalinienne" is named in honor of Haiti's revolutionary leader and first ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The title was suggested by historian Clément Lanier.

History

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, a competition was held for a national anthem in 1903. The poetic words of Justin Lhérisson and martial composition of Nicolas Geffrard won over the judges, who preferred it to "L'Artibonitienne" by Capois diplomat Louis Edouard Pouget.

The anthem was premiered at an October 1903 celebration of the Armée Indigène's entry into Port-au-Prince organised by the Association du Petit Théâtre. It was sung by Auguste de Pradines, also known as Kandjo. The text and music were printed at Bernard's in Port-au-Prince and distributed throughout the country during the week. It was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1904.

Lyrics

As a one-verse rendition can be relatively short, a common way to lengthen a performance is to perform an abridged arrangement consisting of the first verse immediately followed by the last.

Official lyrics

::data[format=table]

French originalIPA transcription
{{langfr
::

|For the Country, for the Ancestors, Let us march united, let us march united. Let there be no traitors in our ranks! Let us be the only masters of our soil. Let us march united, let us march united For the Country, for the Ancestors, Let us march, let us march, let us march united, For the Country, for the Ancestors…

For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous. When the field fructifieth The soul fortifieth Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil, let us toil, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland.

For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train Sons, let us train Sons Free, strong and prosperous We shall always be brothers Let us train Sons, Let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train, let us train, let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers.

For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland O Lord of the Valiant, O Lord of the Valiant! Under Thine infinite protection Take our rights, our life O Lord of the Valiant, O Lord of the Valiant! For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland O Lord, O Lord, O Lord of the Valiant For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland.

For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful! Our past crieth out to us: Have a hardened soul! To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die, to die, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland. |}

Unofficial lyrics

A Haitian Creole version (Desalinyèn) was created by Raymond A. Moise, and Haitian singer Ansy Dérose (1934–1998) helped popularize it in 1980. Although it became widely accepted, it is not official.

::data[format=table] | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EqkwAAAAYAAJ|title=Bon nouvèl|date=1980|publisher=Lafalanj.|language=ht|page=20}} | IPA transcription | |---|---| | {{lang|ht|italic=no|Pou Ayiti peyi Zansèt yo | {{IPA|wrap=none|[pu a.ji.ti pe.ji zã.sɛt jo] | ::

|For Haiti, the Country of the Ancestors we must walk hand in hand There must not be traitors among us – We alone must be our master Let us walk hand in hand that Haiti may be more beautiful Let us put our heads together for Haiti on behalf of all the ancestors

For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us mow, let us sow. All our strength rests in the soul – It is what feeds us. Let us mound up earth, let us send water With joy, the earth must be fertile Mow, water, women and men that we may live by our own arms' strength alone.

For Haiti and for the Ancestors We must be courageous, capable men. People are not born to serve others That is why all mothers and fathers Need to send children to school, to learn, to know what Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion did to take Haitians from under the whites' rope.

For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us raise our head and look above. Let everyone to ask the Lord to grant us protection that the evil angels may not divert us, that we may walk in the right path. For liberty to be able to liberate, justice must spread over the country!

We have a flag like all peoples. Let us love it, die for it. It was not a gift from the whites – It was our Ancestors' blood that was shed. Let us hold our flag high. Let us work together and focus that other countries may respect it This flag is the soul of every Haitian. |}

Notes

References

References

  1. "Haitian Patriotic Songs".
  2. Malena Kuss. "Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: Volume 2 Performing the Caribbean Experience - An Encyclopedic History". The Universe of Music Inc.
  3. (2014). "The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music". Routledge.
  4. "6130.- Symboles d'Haiti: Hymne National » Haiti-Référence".
  5. Hall, Michael R.. (2012). "Historical Dictionary of Haiti". Scarecrow Press.
  6. (1997). "A day for the hunter, a day for the prey: Popular music and power in Haiti". University of Chicago Press.
  7. "National Anthem".
  8. (1963). "National Anthems of the World". Blandford Press.
  9. "6140.- Im nasyonal Dayiti » Haiti-Référence".
  10. (1980). "Bon nouvèl". Lafalanj..
  11. Savain, Roger E.. (1995). "Dis pa nan lang ayisyen-an". Schenkman Books.
  12. (2001). "Pour que la mémoire--: Père de la Patrie, 20 septembre 1758-17 octobre 1806. Jean-Jacques Dessalines". Editions des Presses Nationales d'Haïti.

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north-american-anthemsnational-symbols-of-haiti1904-compositionshaitian-songssongs-in-frenchnational-anthemscompositions-in-b-flat-major