Le Lion rouge: The national anthem of Senegal
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Le Lion Rouge or “The Red Lion,” also known as “Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons,” is the national anthem of Senegal. It was officially adopted in 1960. The lyrics were penned by Léopold Sédar Senghor, who served as Senegal’s first president. The music was composed by Herbert Pepper, a French composer who also crafted the national anthem of the Central African Republic, “La Renaissance.” The kora, a type of harp, and the balafon, a wooden xylophone, are integral Senegalese musical instruments featured in the anthem.
Lyrics
National anthem of Senegal | |
Also known as | “Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons” (English: “Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons”) |
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Lyrics | Léopold Sédar Senghor, 1960 |
Music | Herbert Pepper, 1960 |
Adopted | 1960 |
French Version (Original)
1er couplet : Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons. Le lion rouge a rugi. Le dompteur de la brousse D'un bond s'est élancé, Dissipant les ténèbres. Soleil sur nos terreurs, soleil sur notre espoir. Debout, frères, voici l'Afrique rassemblée Refrain : Fibres de mon cœur vert. Épaule contre épaule, mes plus que frères, O Sénégalais, debout ! Unissons la mer et les sources, unissons la steppe et la forêt ! Salut Afrique mère. 2e couplet : Sénégal toi le fils de l'écume du lion, Toi surgi de la nuit au galop des chevaux, Rend-nous, oh ! rends-nous l'honneur de nos ancêtres, Splendides comme ébène et forts comme le muscle Nous disons droits - l'épée n'a pas une bavure. (Refrain) 3e couplet : Sénégal, nous faisons nôtre ton grand dessein : Rassembler les poussins à l'abri des milans Pour en faire, de l'est à l'ouest, du nord au sud, Dressé, un même peuple, un peuple sans couture Mais un peuple tourné vers tous les vents du monde. (Refrain) 4e couplet : Sénégal, comme toi, comme tous nos héros, Nous serons durs sans haine et des deux bras ouverts. L'épée, nous la mettrons dans la paix du fourreau, Car le travail sera notre arme et la parole. Le Bantou est un frère, et l'Arabe et le Blanc. (Refrain) 5e couplet : Mais que si l'ennemi incendie nos frontières Nous serons tous dressés et les armes au poing : Un peuple dans sa foi défiant tous les malheurs, Les jeunes et les vieux, les hommes et les femmes. La mort, oui ! Nous disons la mort, mais pas la honte. (Refrain)
English translation
1st Verse Everybody, strum your koras, beat your balafons The Red Lion has roared. The tamer of the bushland, Has leapt forth in a single bound, Dispelling the darkness. Sun upon our fears, Sun upon our hopes. Rise, brothers, for Africa has united. Chorus: Fibers of my green heart. Shoulder to shoulder, my more-than-brothers, Senegalese people, rise! Let’s unite seas and rivers, let’s unite steppes and forests! We salute you, mother Africa. 2nd Verse Senegal, son of the lion’s foam, You who have surged from the night to the gallop of horses, Return to us, oh! Return to us the pride of our ancestors, Splendid as ebony and strong as muscle Upright, we say – the sword has no burr. (Chorus) 3rd Verse Senegal, we make ours your great scheme: Give a shelter to the chicks to keep the kites away To make out of it, from East to West and from North to South, a people, standing as one man, a people seamlessly united, But a people looking to all the winds of the world. (Chorus) 4th Verse Senegal, just like you, like all our heroes, We will be strict, without hatred and with our two arms open. The sword shall remain in peace in its sheath, Because labor will be our weapon along with our voice. The Bantu is our brother, as is the Arab and the White man. (Chorus) 5th Verse But should the enemy set our borders aflame, We will rise, arms in hand: One people, in its faith, defying all sorrows, Young and old, men and women. Death, yes! We say yes to death, but not to disgrace. (Chorus)