Nigeria, We Hail Thee
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" is the former national anthem of Nigeria, used from independence in 1960 until 1978. Nigeria's present anthem, "Arise, O Compatriots," was adopted in 1978, replacing "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."[1]
National anthem of  | |
| Lyrics | Lillian Jean Williams, Jonathan xuk |
|---|---|
| Music | Frances Berda |
| Adopted | October 1, 1960 |
| Relinquished | 1978 |
History
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was adopted as Nigeria's first national anthem on October 1, 1960.[2] The anthem's lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence.[2] Frances Berda composed the music for "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."[2]
The second national anthem, "Arise, O Compatriots," replaced "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" in 1978.[2]
Criticism
When "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first announced, the new national anthem faced criticism for a number of reasons. The Daily Service, a newspaper run by the Yoruba organisation Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, started a rebellious campaign against the national anthem, which led to a committee being established to collect signatures as a petition.[3]
References
- "Nigeria's National Anthem Composer, Pa Ben Odiase, Dies". Gazelle News. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- "Goodnight, Pa Benedict Odiase (1934 – 2013)". National Mirror. 2013-06-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- Mphahlele, Ezekiel (1960). "Nigeria on the Eve of Independence". Africa Today. 7 (6): 4. JSTOR 4184128.