La Congolaise (The Congolese) is the national anthem of the Republic of the Congo. The anthem was adopted upon independence in 1959, replaced in 1969 by Les Trois Glorieuses, but reinstated in 1991. The lyrics are written by Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi, and the music is composed by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.
Click here to listen to the National Anthem of the Republic of the Congo
English Translation
On this day the sun rises
And our Congo stands resplendent.
A long night is ended,
a great happiness has come.
Let us all, with wild joyfulness, sing
The song of freedom.
CHORUS:
Arise, Congolese, proud every man,
Proclaim the unity of our nation.
Let us forget what divides us
And become more united than ever.
Let us live our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
Let us live our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
From the forest to the bush,
From the bush to the ocean,
One people, one soul,
One heart, ardent and proud.
Let us all fight, every one of us,
For our black country.
CHORUS
And if we have to die,
What does it really matter? Our children
Everywhere will be able to say how
Triumph comes through battle,
And in the smallest village
Sing beneath our three colours.
CHORUS