Yen Ara Asaase Ni

"Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni" (English: "This Is Our Own Land") is the unofficial national anthem of Ghana. It was written and composed by Ephraim Amu in 1929[1] and is popularly sung in Twi. The original is however in the Ewe language.

Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni
English: This Is Our Own Land
LyricsEphraim Amu, 1929
MusicEphraim Amu, 1929
Audio sample
Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (Vocal)
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Anthem

The first line in the original Ewe lyrics is "Mia denyigba lɔ̃lɔ la". This translates in English as "Our cherished homeland" or "Our beloved homeland".[2][3][4] It was translated into Twi at the time when the Gold Coast was in search of an anthem to replace the colonial one from the United Kingdom, "God save the King". It was among four anthems shortlisted. God Bless Our Homeland Ghana by Philip Gbeho was the one that was eventually selected.[3][4]

The song is often played or sung on national occasions in Ghana.[5] Many people however continue to lobby for the current Ghana national anthem to be replaced by this song.[6]

Lyrics

The patriotic song "Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni" was written by Ephraim Amu and sung Ewe. It was later translated into Twi and then English.[1] The title version translates into English as "This Is Our Own Native Land"; it evokes a message of nationalism and each generation doing their best to build on the works of the previous generation.[7]

Yen Ara Asaase Ni (Akuapim Twi)Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (English translation)[7][8][9][10]
First stanza
Yɛn ara asaase ni;
Ɛyɛ abɔ den den de ma yεn,

Mogya a nananom hwie gu
Nya de to hɔ ma yɛn,
Aduru me ne wo nso so,
Sε yɛbɛyɛ bi atoa so. Nimdeɛ ntraso, nkoto-kranne;
Ne pɛsɛmenkomenya,

Adi yɛn bra mu dεm, ama yɛn asaase hɔ dɔ atomu sɛ.
This is our own native land;

What a priceless heritage,
Acquired with the blood
our ancestors shed for us;
It is now our turn
to continue what our ancestors started
Bragging of educational achievements; Or useless greed for material things,
And bad lifestyles are destroying our nation, and disgracing it.

Chorus

(Chorus 2x):
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie o
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o;
Ɛyɛ nsɛnnahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo bra na ɛkyerɛ.

Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛ yɛ yie o!
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o!;

Ɛyɛ nsɛ nahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo mmra na yɛnnkyerɛ.

(Chorus 2x):
Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;
Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.

Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;

Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.
Second stanza
Nhoma nimdeɛ huhugyan, ngyan ana ade anyara kwa;

Ne ɔbrakyew de ɛsɛe, ɔman na ɛbɔ no ahohora;
Asoɔmerɛ ne obupa yɔnko yiyɛ di pɛ daa,
Ahofama ntetekwaam ma nnipa biara yiyɛ de;
Ɛno mmom na ɛde asomdwee ne nkɔsoɔ pa brɛ ɔman.

Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie o!
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o!;

Ɛyɛ nsɛnnahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo bra na ɛkyerɛ.
Obedience and respect;

Caring for the welfare of one another everyday,
Selflessness in the traditional way;
Ensures each person’s welfare,
That is what will bring peace and prosperity to our nation.

Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;
Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.

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References
  1. Agawu, Kofi. "The Amu Legacy: Ephraim Amu 1899-1995." (1996): 274-279.
  2. Amenyo, Kofi (11 February 2009). "Who is a Ghanaian, and who is not?". ghanaweb.com. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 5 July 2020. I have always felt that the lyrics of the E?e original of Amu’s tune express a greater nationalist ethos than the more popular Twi translation. Mia denyigba lolo la (This, our beloved homeland), dear reader, is rendered in Twi merely as: Yen ara asaase ni (This is our own land).
  3. Narmer, Amenuti (12 October 2016). "Amu's Ghana National Anthem Versus Gbeho's Sunday School Song". grandmotherafrica.com. Grandmother Africa. Retrieved 5 July 2020. Consider this English translation of the first stanza: “This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is;
  4. Narmer, Amenuti (12 October 2016). "Amu's Ghana National Anthem Versus Gbeho's Sunday School Song". ghanaweb. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 5 July 2020. Consider this English translation of the first stanza: “This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is;
  5. "Dr. Ephraim Amu (Potrait of Cultured Patriotism )". ghanweb.com. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 5 July 2020. Of Amu's compositions, "Yen Ara Asase Ni" has become a nationally acclaimed patriotic song that is performed at national functions.
  6. "Use "Yen Ara Asase Ni" as National Anthem". ghanaweb.com. ghanaweb.com. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2020. Prof. Amonoo said: "I look forward to that day a government would muster the political courage to change our National Anthem from "God Bless our Homeland" to "This is our Homeland" - "Yen Ara Asase Ni".
  7. ""Yɛn Ara Asase Ni" – Dr. Ephraim Amu". learnakan.com. LearnAkan. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  8. "The Ashanti National Anthem Yen ara asase ni: Dr. Ephraim Amu". museke.com. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  9. "Yen Ara Asase Ni". ak.kasahorow.org. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  10. "Yen Ara Asase Ni with Translation". abibitumikasa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
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