March On, Bahamaland Explained

March On, Bahamaland
Prefix:National
Country:the Bahamas
Author:Timothy Gibson
Lyrics Date:1973
Composer:Timothy Gibson
Music Date:1973
Sound:National anthem of the Bahamas.oga
Sound Title:U.S. Navy Band instrumental version

"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.

History

The Bahamas became a crown colony within the British Empire in 1717. Internal autonomy was eventually granted to the islands in 1964. Negotiations on independence commenced eight years later, when the Progressive Liberal Party emerged victorious in the 1972 elections after campaigning in favour of sovereignty.[1] Consequently, a contest was held to determine an anthem for the forthcoming state.[2]

In the end, lyrics and music written by Timothy Gibson were selected.[2] Gibson was a school music teacher[3] and also wrote the music to the country's national song, "God Bless Our Sunny Clime", together with E. Clement Bethel.[4] The song was officially adopted in 1973, the year the country gained independence.[2] [5] One of the first public occasions where the anthem was played was at the midnight flag hoisting ceremony held at Clifford Park in Nassau on 10 July 1973, marking the end of British rule over the Bahamas.[6]

Since the Bahamas continued to be a Commonwealth realm after independence, "God Save the Queen" was retained as the country's royal anthem.[5] That anthem was twice played by mistake at the 1982 Commonwealth Games medal ceremony,[7] when Shonel Ferguson won gold in women's long jump.[8] She stepped off the podium on each occasion and expressed her wish that "March On, Bahamaland" be played. The officials realized that they did not have a recording of that song, so the Bahamian delegation sang their anthem themselves.[7]

Lyrics

Source:[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bahamas profile. . June 18, 2020.
  2. Book: Minahan, James B.. The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. 1. ABC-CLIO. December 23, 2009. 664. 9780313344978.
  3. Book: Preserving Our Heritage, Level 1. Heinemann. December 21, 2004. Collie. Linda. Smith. Annamaria. Wright. Liesl. 45. 9780435984731.
  4. Web site: National Symbols. June 18, 2020. Embassy of the Bahamas to the United States of America. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619003952/https://www.bahamasembdc.org/about/national-symbols/?doing_wp_cron=1592527192.6023869514465332031250. June 19, 2020.
  5. Web site: Bahamas, The. June 15, 2020. June 18, 2020. The World Factbook. CIA.
  6. News: The Bahamas, Amid Pomp and Calypso, Becomes Independent. July 11, 1973. 2. June 18, 2020. The New York Times.
  7. Book: A History of the Bahamian People: From the Ending of Slavery to the Twenty-First Century. University of Georgia Press. 2000. Craton. Michael. Saunders. Gail. 475. 9780820322841.
  8. Web site: Bahamas Gold Medals Brisbane 1982. June 18, 2020. Commonwealth Games Federation. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619021800/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3040/5/gold. June 19, 2020.
  9. Web site: March On Bahamaland . June 18, 2020. Government of The Bahamas. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618155918/https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/about%20the%20bahamas/national%20symbols/march%20on%20bahamaland/%21ut/p/b1/vZLJkpswFEW_xR_gRmDGJfM8C4zZuGzAtMEYzAxfH3cqi06q0p1FuvVWqjp69-lISIxESHw_jdf81F_r--n2to_J4w7IJsvitCkTgARq4BisQymYjRJP4PABgIPPzu-RCB6wWajNSRSto-Z2hZ_nATjLFzbo0cH1_Ws_vQ7S-bFbU0mBbbxScelkpebDk5Y9ZpMYKxtymqo3tk69-no5F8H0YPjtft068HV7HetBEaGaSL7scips7QaP6bT1odHJXATPlMlnIWZb6JUXQHoiec-Majq7u-Edo9p-F3K7HVyDcJnriiEy9t7CTB9X2nhlWLmP1LXb_PIA_rLYf_AQf4jo2CfAm-qfwAczHJ4A9a4DDAFQUcB6PuoC2kIRiEQAP_rF0qhruXoFmDVYaDoU1AUtAsynDNeCktYxPArZeCnc1SrEGZaoaQqSbTKKmUpewOGZZvTuZvNnoI1B5hnIo6QeEMAH-FcHyoRNPx1R0GEJDMg2-t2Bu29VKjs2-PIb_vZpcPf_v6GGxNdz9TIl1Qt4oRkSJSgaZ2gS4DhNIWFxIGehUydB9I5N0MuJfMDSAs87nr_DoCoxlfABbVzEpZY5djZTCqcWl04U3Xpg3q2lDLXDtl6DTV2ckY5ZUvJtqYQuVxvSoJVDdMsFnZj3CWpNc6ObBJoOZ7k52dC_m5EbVWkvnY7OAJI-HLYX_gAgz9Q3r1yF6tw-4I2Z_KlvFThe0SXJhaOZUZywDWW5FoybGiaM3a5kOe41sbK5KBjEkubbfJQU_qLb3LbOINEpNEvAYaHzpw9LqasMaapgNEhPWaN3lbGbH1JSZV8%21/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/. June 18, 2020.

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