| English: This Is Our Own Land | |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | Ephraim Amu, 1929 |
| Music | Ephraim Amu, 1929 |
| Audio sample | |
Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (Vocal)
| |
"Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni" (English: "This Is Our Own Land") is the unofficial national anthemofGhana. 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.
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 GhanabyPhilip 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]
The patriotic song『Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni』was written by Ephraim Amu and sung In the Ewe language. 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;
Adi yɛn bra mu dεm, ama yɛn asaase hɔ dɔ atomu sɛ.
Ɛyɛ abɔ den den de ma yεn,
Mogya a nananom hwie gu |
This is our own native land;
And bad lifestyles are destroying our nation, and disgracing it.
What a priceless heritage, |
| Chorus | |
|
(Chorus 2x):
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛ yɛ yie o! |
(Chorus 2x):
Whether or not this nation prospers! |
| Second stanza | |
|
Nhoma nimdeɛ huhugyan, ngyan ana ade anyara kwa;
Ne ɔbrakyew de ɛsɛe, ɔman na ɛbɔ no ahohora;
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie o! |
Obedience and respect;
Caring for the welfare of one another everyday,
Whether or not this nation prospers! |
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).
Consider this English translation of the first stanza: "This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is;
Consider this English translation of the first stanza: "This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is;
Of Amu's compositions, "Yen Ara Asase Ni" has become a nationally acclaimed patriotic song that is performed at national functions.
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".
