Salone National Anthem is Still Relevant Today
By Victor A. Massaquoi
I read with sharp curiosity as the lines unfolded, and with vibrant consternation, but controlled, the suggestion to rewrite the National Anthem of the Republic of Sierra Leone. In this short rhetorical analysis of the piece “Change the Sierra Leone National Anthem” published in the “Cocorioko” online newspaper, on 5/29/2008, it is evident that even with the clever argumentation of poignant and clear facts (although debatable), I will contend that if countries or nation-states, around the world, constantly change the lyrics and tunes of their treasured national anthems, that call to mind hope, self-importance for a country that was, maybe still is, reprehensibly battered by a rebel war and other vices of society; a country that is struggling (although not insurmountable) to nurture harmony and inculcate justice in a corrupt system that traces its roots of serious corruption to the early 1960s, then the question becomes, do the words ‘patriotism’, ‘honor’ ‘love’ ‘country’ ‘nation’ and ‘loyalty’ mean anything even in the midst of disunity, corruption, acrimony and hatred.
Yes! Those words do mean a lot, irrespective of the contemporary socio-cultural, economic, and political situations in the country. Countries have gone through acidic times in their history, but never (except few) have they changed their national anthems to satisfy a political ideology or personal gripe, because national anthems are loosely sacred texts/tunes that are time honored and meaning and interpretation applied as generations change over time. I sensed some political motives in the writer’s analysis, which is outside the scope of my reaction to this piece—I am not a politician!
Three things that caught my attention were:
1) “But while the music seldom becomes outdated, sometimes the lyrics become obsolete with the passage of time and our anthem is no exception. Of the three stanzas of our national hymn, the first in particular at no time in our history has its first three verses become so out of date, so obsolete and flawed considering the present climate of mistrust, deep-seated malice and hate among competing political parties polarized along provincial and ethnic lines. In fact "HIGH WE EXALT THEE" became outdated … following Sir Milton Margai’s death. It is no surprise that the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans sing our anthem without even meditating on the message the lyrics are meant to convey.”
Here is my reaction: I respectfully disagree! The tune and the lyrics are timeless, in my opinion, and communicate all the things the writer just vilified. Of the over 190 nation-states recognized by the United Nations, not one has a national anthem that is solidly written and solemnly sung like the Sierra Leone National Anthem. It invokes hope, loyalty, unity and pride, albeit, symbolically. But that has been and continues to be the very spirit of national anthems, that despite the divisions and animosity, symbolically, the anthem and pledge will always remind us of our past, present and future.
2) “The third verse of the first stanza” FIRMLY UNITED EVER WE STAND" makes ridicule of ourselves. I throw the challenge to all Sierra Leoneans to show one moment since 1964 when we ever stand united as one people. The North-South polarization and the injection of politics in this divide has made it a Herculean task to ever come together even when it for the good of the country. I cannot recall even one moment in our post colonial history when as a people, we ever stand united on any matter of national concern.”
Here is my reaction: The term unity is relative to context and application. We have been united in many ways since independence. Have we ever had tribal or ethnic fight like Burundi and Rwanda? No! Thanks to God. This suggests unity depending on one’s definition. Do you know the level of inter-tribal marriages (Mende marrying Themneh, Creole marrying Fullah) in the last 20 years? I was in Freetown few months ago, and I was impressed with the level of diversity, at least, at the social level.
3) “Nigeria, our sister West African country had to change her national anthem at independence in 1960 because the lyrics were written by an expatriate and did not reflect the reality about Nigeria. During the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1966 to 1970, there were two anthems…”
Here is my reaction: Is the writer suggesting that just because Nigeria changed in 1960, Sierra Leone should follow same. Nigeria is a country with an envious sense of pride. I was in Surulere, Lagos, in 1995, and almost all the Nigerians I talked with then held opposing view of the existing political and economic climate, but they would tell you, we are Nigerians first. Not once did any intellectual or ordinary Nigeria called for a change in the national anthem to meet changing realities. As a Sierra Leonean, the author has a right to write what he wrote, but as a Sierra Leonean, too, I felt the need to react because of the piece rhetorically failed to offer concrete suggestions that would move the country forward on important issues like: rural development, sound policy design and implementation, street children, political victimization and social anomaly.
To conclude, my central argument (strictly non-political, non-regional and non-tribal) has been that if we start changing traditional, customary and cultural songs, artifacts and other treasured objects that are sacrosanct, in a non-religious sense, to meet changing times, then our very existence as a nation-state would be worthless; should we follow the writer’s suggested path, there is a potential that the country would gradually morph into a soulless entity with virtually nothing prideful to show for its existence in the world and to posterity. Look at how proud it is to be an American, despite the gulf in social class, the economic ocean that divides the rich and the poor, and the acrimonious political partitions that are presenting themselves in this presidential election year. Does every American (given the political ideological divide—libertarian, liberal, conservative etc.) agree with the national anthem? No! But they are still Americans. Policies and programs can be created and implemented, like the “Attitudinal Change” project to address the writer’s concerns rather than changing our national anthem that is so relevant to every Sierra Leonean irrespective of time.
-30-
By Victor A. Massaquoi
I read with sharp curiosity as the lines unfolded, and with vibrant consternation, but controlled, the suggestion to rewrite the National Anthem of the Republic of Sierra Leone. In this short rhetorical analysis of the piece “Change the Sierra Leone National Anthem” published in the “Cocorioko” online newspaper, on 5/29/2008, it is evident that even with the clever argumentation of poignant and clear facts (although debatable), I will contend that if countries or nation-states, around the world, constantly change the lyrics and tunes of their treasured national anthems, that call to mind hope, self-importance for a country that was, maybe still is, reprehensibly battered by a rebel war and other vices of society; a country that is struggling (although not insurmountable) to nurture harmony and inculcate justice in a corrupt system that traces its roots of serious corruption to the early 1960s, then the question becomes, do the words ‘patriotism’, ‘honor’ ‘love’ ‘country’ ‘nation’ and ‘loyalty’ mean anything even in the midst of disunity, corruption, acrimony and hatred.
Yes! Those words do mean a lot, irrespective of the contemporary socio-cultural, economic, and political situations in the country. Countries have gone through acidic times in their history, but never (except few) have they changed their national anthems to satisfy a political ideology or personal gripe, because national anthems are loosely sacred texts/tunes that are time honored and meaning and interpretation applied as generations change over time. I sensed some political motives in the writer’s analysis, which is outside the scope of my reaction to this piece—I am not a politician!
Three things that caught my attention were:
1) “But while the music seldom becomes outdated, sometimes the lyrics become obsolete with the passage of time and our anthem is no exception. Of the three stanzas of our national hymn, the first in particular at no time in our history has its first three verses become so out of date, so obsolete and flawed considering the present climate of mistrust, deep-seated malice and hate among competing political parties polarized along provincial and ethnic lines. In fact "HIGH WE EXALT THEE" became outdated … following Sir Milton Margai’s death. It is no surprise that the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans sing our anthem without even meditating on the message the lyrics are meant to convey.”
Here is my reaction: I respectfully disagree! The tune and the lyrics are timeless, in my opinion, and communicate all the things the writer just vilified. Of the over 190 nation-states recognized by the United Nations, not one has a national anthem that is solidly written and solemnly sung like the Sierra Leone National Anthem. It invokes hope, loyalty, unity and pride, albeit, symbolically. But that has been and continues to be the very spirit of national anthems, that despite the divisions and animosity, symbolically, the anthem and pledge will always remind us of our past, present and future.
2) “The third verse of the first stanza” FIRMLY UNITED EVER WE STAND" makes ridicule of ourselves. I throw the challenge to all Sierra Leoneans to show one moment since 1964 when we ever stand united as one people. The North-South polarization and the injection of politics in this divide has made it a Herculean task to ever come together even when it for the good of the country. I cannot recall even one moment in our post colonial history when as a people, we ever stand united on any matter of national concern.”
Here is my reaction: The term unity is relative to context and application. We have been united in many ways since independence. Have we ever had tribal or ethnic fight like Burundi and Rwanda? No! Thanks to God. This suggests unity depending on one’s definition. Do you know the level of inter-tribal marriages (Mende marrying Themneh, Creole marrying Fullah) in the last 20 years? I was in Freetown few months ago, and I was impressed with the level of diversity, at least, at the social level.
3) “Nigeria, our sister West African country had to change her national anthem at independence in 1960 because the lyrics were written by an expatriate and did not reflect the reality about Nigeria. During the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1966 to 1970, there were two anthems…”
Here is my reaction: Is the writer suggesting that just because Nigeria changed in 1960, Sierra Leone should follow same. Nigeria is a country with an envious sense of pride. I was in Surulere, Lagos, in 1995, and almost all the Nigerians I talked with then held opposing view of the existing political and economic climate, but they would tell you, we are Nigerians first. Not once did any intellectual or ordinary Nigeria called for a change in the national anthem to meet changing realities. As a Sierra Leonean, the author has a right to write what he wrote, but as a Sierra Leonean, too, I felt the need to react because of the piece rhetorically failed to offer concrete suggestions that would move the country forward on important issues like: rural development, sound policy design and implementation, street children, political victimization and social anomaly.
To conclude, my central argument (strictly non-political, non-regional and non-tribal) has been that if we start changing traditional, customary and cultural songs, artifacts and other treasured objects that are sacrosanct, in a non-religious sense, to meet changing times, then our very existence as a nation-state would be worthless; should we follow the writer’s suggested path, there is a potential that the country would gradually morph into a soulless entity with virtually nothing prideful to show for its existence in the world and to posterity. Look at how proud it is to be an American, despite the gulf in social class, the economic ocean that divides the rich and the poor, and the acrimonious political partitions that are presenting themselves in this presidential election year. Does every American (given the political ideological divide—libertarian, liberal, conservative etc.) agree with the national anthem? No! But they are still Americans. Policies and programs can be created and implemented, like the “Attitudinal Change” project to address the writer’s concerns rather than changing our national anthem that is so relevant to every Sierra Leonean irrespective of time.
-30-
posted by Vickylandys | 10:17 AM
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