Yen Ara Asaase Ni Explained
| Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni |
| English Title: | This Is Our Own Land |
| Author: | Ephraim Amu |
| Lyrics Date: | 1929 |
| Composer: | Ephraim Amu |
| Music Date: | 1929 |
| Sound: | Yen Ara Asaase Ni (Vocal) — Ghana national anthem.ogg |
| Sound Title: | Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (Vocal) |
"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.
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 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)[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 bra na ɛkyerɛ. | (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. | |
|---|
External links
Notes and References
- Agawu, Kofi. "The Amu Legacy: Ephraim Amu 1899-1995." (1996): 274-279.
- Web site: Amenyo . Kofi . Who is a Ghanaian, and who is not? . ghanaweb.com . GhanaWeb . 5 July 2020 . 11 February 2009 . 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)..
- Web site: Narmer . Amenuti . Amu's Ghana National Anthem Versus Gbeho's Sunday School Song . grandmotherafrica.com . Grandmother Africa . Consider this English translation of the first stanza: “This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is; . 5 July 2020 . 12 October 2016.
- Web site: Narmer . Amenuti . Amu's Ghana National Anthem Versus Gbeho's Sunday School Song . ghanaweb . Consider this English translation of the first stanza: “This is our beloved Homeland; what a priceless heritage that it is; . 5 July 2020 . 12 October 2016.
- Web site: Dr. Ephraim Amu (Portrait of Cultured Patriotism) . ghanweb.com . GhanaWeb . 5 July 2020 . Of Amu's compositions, "Yen Ara Asase Ni" has become a nationally acclaimed patriotic song that is performed at national functions..
- Web site: Use "Yen Ara Asase Ni" as National Anthem . ghanaweb.com . 5 July 2020 . 27 March 2003 . 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"..
- Web site: "Yɛn Ara Asase Ni" – Dr. Ephraim Amu . learnakan.com . LearnAkan . 5 July 2020 . 25 September 2016.
- Web site: The Ashanti National Anthem Yen ara asase ni: Dr. Ephraim Amu. 13 May 2006. museke.com. 1 August 2015.
- Web site: Yen Ara Asase Ni. ak.kasahorow.org. 13 May 2006 . 30 July 2015.
- Web site: Yen Ara Asase Ni with Translation. abibitumikasa.com. 1 August 2015.
