"" (; ) 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 text and music were printed at Bernard's in Port-au-Prince and distributed throughout the country during the week.

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|<poem>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.</poem>

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Unofficial lyrics

A Haitian Creole version (Desalinyèn) was created by Raymond A. Moyse, and Haitian singer Ansy Dérose (1934–1998) helped popularize it in 1980.

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!Haitian Creole original

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|<poem>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 soil –

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,

For them to learn, for them 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.</poem>

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See also

  • Flag of Haiti
  • "Haïti Chérie"
  • Music of Haiti
  • "Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves"

Notes

References

  • "La Dessalinienne" (mp3)