God Save Our Solomon Islands

Last updated
God Save Our Solomon Islands

National anthem of the Solomon Islands
Lyrics Panapasa Balekana / Matila Balekana
Music Panapasa Balekana
Adopted1978
Audio sample

"God Save Our Solomon Islands" is the national anthem of Solomon Islands. It was adopted in 1978 following independence. [1] The lyrics were authored by Fijian-born husband and wife Panapasa and Matila Balekana, and the music was composed by Panapasa. [1]

Contents

History

The anthem was composed by Fijian-born Panapasa Balekana (1929–2009) and authored together with his wife, Matila. In the run-up to independence on 7 July 1978, the government of Solomon Islands decided that it needed a national anthem for the occasion. The government announced on the radio that it would accept submissions from the general public for a new anthem. [2]

Balekana, who had moved to Solomon Islands in 1953 to work as a government mechanic, and his wife, Matila, decided to jointly enter the competition as a team. The couple agreed that the new anthem should be in the form of a prayer, asking God to support and guide the new island nation. [2]

Balekana claimed in interviews to have received his inspiration for the anthem in a dream. After he woke up from the dream, Balekana and his wife immediately began writing words and lyrics, as well as composing the tune. Panapasa and Matila Balekana co-wrote the lyrics for the anthem, while Panapasa composed the accompanying music. The couple credited prayer and God for their success in creating the anthem, noting how well the song came together. [2]

Once the lyrics and music had been composed, Panapasa and Matila received help recording the prospective anthem from the Wesley United Church choir at the couple's own congregation. The choir sang the song for the first time, which was recorded on tape and submitted to competition officials. [2]

The Balekanas' submission, "God Save Our Solomon Islands", won the competition, for which Panapasa was awarded SI$250 for the lyrics and music each, [3] and became the national anthem of the Solomon Islands. It was sung on the country's first independence day, 7 July 1978. Balekana was overjoyed and explained the importance of the anthem and its meaning:

Solomon Islands national anthem was written in a form of prayer asking God for safekeeping and protection of our new nation. By the power and grace of God, we may receive joy, peace, progress and prosperity, if only we can be able to work together in harmony. These may be the foundation of building our nation, as we can be rest assured that we will reach our destinationstands forever more. [2]

Lyrics

God save our Solomon Islands from shore to shore
Bless [lower-alpha 1] all our people and all our lands
With your protecting hands
Joy, peace, progress and prosperity
That men should brothers be, make nations see
Our Solomon Islands, our Solomon Islands
Our nation Solomon Islands
Stands for ever more. [6] [7] [8]

See also

Notes

  1. Sometimes written as "blessed". [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short sacred choral work and still more particularly to a specific form of liturgical music. In this sense, its use began c. 1550 in English-speaking churches; it uses English language words, in contrast to the originally Roman Catholic 'motet' which sets a Latin text.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Save the King</span> National or royal anthem in most Commonwealth realms

"God Save the King" is the national anthem of the United Kingdom and the royal anthem of each of the British Crown Dependencies, one of two national anthems of New Zealand since 1977, and the royal anthem of most Commonwealth realms. The author of the tune is unknown and it may originate in plainchant, but an attribution to the composer John Bull has sometimes been made.

"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which French-language words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lofsöngur</span> National anthem of Iceland

"Lofsöngur", also known as "Ó Guð vors lands", is the national anthem of Iceland. Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson composed the music, while the lyrics were authored by Matthías Jochumsson. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1944, when the country declared independence by voting to end its "personal union" and become a republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Save the Tsar!</span> 1833–1917 national anthem of the Russian Empire

"God Save the Tsar!" was the national anthem of the Russian Empire. The song was chosen from a competition held in 1833 and was first performed on 18 December 1833. It was composed by violinist Alexei Lvov, with lyrics written by the court poet Vasily Zhukovsky. It was the anthem until the February Revolution of 1917, after which "Worker's Marseillaise" was adopted as the new national anthem until the overthrow of the Russian Provisional Government by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution of the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March On, Bahamaland</span> National anthem of the Bahamas

"March On, Bahamaland" is the national anthem of the Bahamas. Timothy Gibson composed the music and authored the lyrics. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1973, when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom.

A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European nations tend towards more ornate and operatic pieces, while those in the Middle East, Oceania, Africa, and the Caribbean use a more simplistic fanfare. Some countries that are devolved into multiple constituent states have their own official musical compositions for them ; their constituencies' songs are sometimes referred to as national anthems even though they are not sovereign states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kassaman</span> National anthem of Algeria

"Kassaman", or "Qassaman", is the national anthem of Algeria. Moufdi Zakaria authored the lyrics, while the music was composed by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi. The song was adopted as the national anthem in 1962, when the country gained independence from France.

"Fatshe leno la rona" is the national anthem of Botswana. The music was composed by Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete, who also authored the song's lyrics. It was adopted when the country became independent in 1966. Since independence, the song is sung occasionally during the country's important events such as Kgotla meetings, independence celebrations and other national events. The national anthem is highly respected to an extent that when it is sung movements are not allowed, people stand at attention, and security officers, like the police and soldiers, salute as a show of respect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour</span> National anthem of Dominica

"Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour" is the popular title for the national anthem of Dominica. It was adopted upon the island gaining statehood in 1967 and again with Dominica's independence in 1978. The lyrics are by Wilfred Oscar Morgan Pond (1912–1985), and the music was composed by Lemuel McPherson Christian OBE (1917–2000).

"Meda Dau Doka", or "God Bless Fiji", is the national anthem of Fiji. The lyrics were written by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott (1928–2006) to the tune of the hymn "Dwelling in Beulah Land" by Charles Austin Miles (1911), and the music was adapted by Viliame Bale, Superintendent and Director of Music in the Royal Fiji Police Band. The anthem was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For The Gambia Our Homeland</span> National anthem of the Gambia

"For The Gambia Our Homeland" is the national anthem of the Gambia. It is based on the music of a traditional Mandinka song, to which original Mandinka lyrics were written by Jali Nyama Suso. An English arrangement and translation were made by husband and wife Jeremy and Virginia Howe and adopted as the national anthem in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bože pravde</span> National anthem of Serbia

"Bože pravde" is the national anthem of Serbia, as defined by the Article 7 of the Constitution of Serbia. "Bože pravde" was adopted in 1882 and had been the national anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia until 1919 when Serbia became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It was re-adopted as the national anthem at first by the parliamentary recommendation in 2004 and then constitutionally sanctioned in 2006, after Serbia restored its independence.

"Forged from the Love of Liberty" is the national anthem of the Trinidad and Tobago. Originally composed as the national anthem for the short-lived West Indies Federation (1958–1962), this song was edited and adopted by Trinidad and Tobago when it became independent in 1962. It was written and composed by Patrick S. Castagne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tautiška giesmė</span> National anthem of Lithuania

"Tautiška giesmė" is the national anthem of Lithuania, also known by its opening words, "Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų", and as "Lietuvos himnas". The music and lyrics were written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka, when Lithuania was still part of the Russian Empire. The fifty-word poem was a condensation of Kudirka's conceptions of the Lithuanian state, the Lithuanian people, and their past. Shortly before his death in 1899, the anthem was performed for Lithuanians living in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!</span> National anthem of Madagascar

"Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!" is the national anthem of Madagascar. The lyrics were written by Pasteur Rahajason, and the music by Norbert Raharisoa. It is similar to a march and was strongly influenced by European music and the French colonial education system. It is often played by Malagasy musicians on the accordion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Defend New Zealand</span> One of two national anthems of New Zealand

"God Defend New Zealand" is one of two national anthems of New Zealand, the other being "God Save the King". Legally the two have equal status, but "God Defend New Zealand" is more commonly used. Originally written as a poem, it was set to music as part of a competition in 1876. Over the years its popularity increased, and it was eventually named the second national anthem in 1977. It has English and Māori lyrics, with slightly different meanings. Since the late 1990s, the usual practice when performed in public is to perform the first verse of the national anthem twice, first in Māori and then in English.

Panapasa Balekana, MBE, SIM, was a Fijian-born Solomon Islander who composed the national anthem of the Solomon Islands, "God Save Our Solomon Islands", with his wife, Matila Balekana. Panapasa Balekana co-wrote the anthem's lyrics with his wife while he composed the accompanying music.

Matila Baleilekutu Balekana is a Fijian-born Solomon Islander, who co-wrote the national anthem of the Solomon Islands with her husband, Panapasa Balekana.

"God Bless our Sunny Clime" is the national song of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Its music was composed by Timothy Gibson and E. Clement Bethel. The lyrics were written by the Rev. Philip Rahming, a Baptist minister and lecturer at the College of the Bahamas.

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile - Solomon Islands". CIA World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Solomons National Anthem Composer Dies in Honiara - Solomon Times Online". SolomonTimes.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  3. Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM. Pacific Publications. 1978. pp. 17, 29.
  4. "Building the spiritual aspect of our football". Solomon Star News. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  5. "KiMuaNZ: Exploring climate futures" (PDF). McGuinness Institute . October 2019. p. 19. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  6. Alasia, Sam (1989). Ples Blong Iumi: Solomon Islands, the Past Four Thousand Years. editorips@usp.ac.fj. p. 160. ISBN   978-982-02-0027-2.
  7. "Practicing Peace" (PDF). Conflict Resolution Education Connection. May 2005. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  8. Zaku, Atkin (2013-01-21). "The Roles of Melanesians in the Development of the Church in Melanesia 1925–1975" (PDF). Australian Catholic University . pp. 35–36 (45–46 in file). Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  9. "“Wakabauti long Chinatown”: The song, the composers, the storyline" Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Office of the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands