Les Trois Glorieuses

For the French Revolution of 1830, see Three Glorious Days.

Les Trois Glorieuses

English:  Three Glorious Days
National anthem of the People's Republic of Congo
Lyrics	Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi
Music	Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière
Adopted	January 1, 1970
Relinquished	1990
Preceded by	"La Congolaise"
Succeeded by	"La Congolaise"
Audio sample
1975 recording on shortwave file help

"Les Trois Glorieuses" was the anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1970, through 1991, when the original anthem, "La Congolaise", was restored.

The anthem was named after a three-day uprising in 1963 that resulted in the overthrow of the first President, Fulbert Youlou. ^[1]

The lyrics were written by Henri Lopès, and the music was composed by Philippe Mockouamy. Mockouamy was at the time a colonel in the Congolese Army and served in its main military band from 1970 to 1990. ^[2]

Lyrics

French original [3] [4]	Lingala translation	English translation
I Lève-toi, Patrie courageuse, Toi qui en trois journées glorieuses Saisis et porte le drapeau Pour un Congo libre et nouveau, Qui ne jamais plus ne faillira, [a] Que personne n'effrayera. Refrain: Nous avons brisés nos chaines, Nous travaillerons sans peine, Nous sommes une Nation souveraine. II Si trop tôt me tue l'ennemi, Brave camarade, saisis mon fusil; Et si la balle touche mon coeur, Toutes nos soeurs se lèveront sans peur, Et nos monts, nos flots en fureur Repousseront l'envahisseur. Refrain III Ici commence la Patrie Où chaque humain a le même prix. Notre seul guide c'est le Peuple. Notre génie c'est encore le Peuple. C'est lui seul qui a décidé De rétablir sa dignité. Refrain	I Tɛlɛmá, Mboka ya Tata ya mpiko, Yo oyo na mikolo misato ya nkembo Bokanga mpe bomema drapo Pona Kongó ya ofele pe ya sika, Nani akozanga lisusu te, Ete moto moko te akobangisa. Chorale ya miziki : Tobukaki minyɔlɔlɔ na biso Tokosala mosala kozanga ete tósala milende, Tozali Ekolo oyo ezali na bokonzi. II Soki monguna abomi ngai noki mingi, Camarade ya mpiko, kanga munduki na ngai; Mpe soki lisasi ebɛti motema na ngai, Bandeko na biso nyonso ya basi bakosekwa kozanga kobanga, Mpe bangomba na biso, mbonge na biso oyo ezali konguluma Bengana moto oyo azali kobundisa yango. Chorale ya miziki III Awa ebandi mboka Esika mutu nionso azalaka na ntalo moko. Motambwisi na biso kaka moko ezali Bato. Mayele na biso ezali kaka bato. Ye moko nde azwaki ekateli Mpo na kozongisa lokumu na ye. Chorale ya miziki	I Stand up, courageous homeland You who in three glorious days Seized the flag and opened the door For a free and new Congo, That never again will fail, Frighten anyone. Chorus: We've broken our chains, We will work without penalty, We are a sovereign nation. II If the enemy kills me too early, Brave comrade, seize my gun; And if the ball touches my heart, All our sisters will stand without fear, And our mountains, our streams into a rage Will repel the invader. Chorus III Here begins the Fatherland Where every human has the same price. Our only guide is the People. Our genius is still the People. It is he alone who decided To restore its dignity. Chorus

Notes

1. Sometimes written Qui jamais plus ne faillira. ^[3]

References

1. Bazenguissa-Ganga, Rémy. Les voies du politique au Congo: essai de sociologie historique . Paris: Karthala, 1997. p. 161
2. "Hommage à Philippe Mockouamy, le plus grand chef de la fanfare congolaise". Journal de Brazza. 27 December 2017.
3. Mabanckou, Alain (2013-01-03). Lumières de Pointe-Noire (in French). Editions du Seuil. p. 94. ISBN   978-2-02-110421-9.
4. Loemba, Anselme (2020-06-29). Foucks la Défense: Un quartier mythique de la Pointe-Noire (in French). Le Lys Bleu Éditions. pp. 26–27. ISBN   979-10-377-0964-6.

External links

• Congo, Republic of "Les Trois Glorieuses" (archived)
• People's Republic of the Congo "Les Trois Glorieuses"