A national anthem is more than just a song. It can represent a country’s history, struggles, values, identity and hopes for the future. For this reason, changing a national anthem is rarely a simple decision. Countries may replace or revise their anthems after gaining independence, changing political systems, separating from another nation or seeking to reflect a new national identity.
Here are some countries that have changed their national anthems over the years.
- Nigeria
Nigeria has had more than one national anthem since gaining independence from Britain in 1960. The country’s first national anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, was used from independence until 1978.
It was replaced by Arise, O Compatriots, which became the national anthem in 1978. The lyrics were written by a group of Nigerian writers and the music was composed by Benedict E. Odiase.
In 2024, Nigeria returned to its original anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, following the passage of legislation by the National Assembly and presidential assent. The change marked a return to the country’s first anthem more than four decades after it had been replaced.
- South Africa
South Africa’s national anthem has a particularly interesting history because it combines two songs associated with different parts of the country’s past.
Before the end of apartheid, Die Stem van Suid Afrika was South Africa’s official national anthem. At the same time, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was widely regarded as an anthem of the anti apartheid movement.
Following the country’s transition to democracy in the 1990s, the two songs were combined to create a new national anthem. The anthem incorporates several languages, including isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English, reflecting the country’s diverse population.
- Russia
Russia has changed its national anthem several times as its political identity has changed.
During the Soviet era, the country used the State Anthem of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia adopted The Patriotic Song as its national anthem.
However, the song did not remain popular for long. In 2000, Russia adopted a new anthem using the melody of the former Soviet anthem, with new lyrics written by Sergey Mikhalkov.
The change reflected the country’s attempt to establish a national identity following the dramatic political changes of the previous decade.
- France
France has retained La Marseillaise as its national anthem for much of its modern history, but it has not been used continuously.
The revolutionary song was adopted as France’s national anthem in 1795. It was later banned under different political regimes before being restored in the nineteenth century.
Its history demonstrates that national anthems can become closely connected to political change. Although France did not permanently replace La Marseillaise, the song’s official status changed several times.
- Germany
Germany’s national anthem has also undergone significant changes because of political developments.
The melody of the current German anthem comes from a composition by Joseph Haydn. The lyrics were written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben.
After the Second World War, Germany was divided into East and West Germany, and the two states had different national anthems. Following reunification in 1990, Germany retained Deutschlandlied as its national anthem, but only the third stanza is officially used.
The decision reflected the country’s desire to preserve a national symbol while distancing itself from the problematic historical associations surrounding the earlier use of the song.
- Rwanda
Rwanda changed its national anthem after the 1994 genocide and the political transformation that followed.
The country had used an anthem associated with the previous government, but a new national anthem was introduced in the aftermath of the genocide. The new anthem, Rwanda Nziza, was intended to represent a new national identity and a different future for the country.
In 2001, Rwanda officially adopted the new anthem.
- Afghanistan
Afghanistan has changed its national anthem several times as different governments and political systems have taken control of the country.
During the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the country adopted different anthems under different regimes. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 also brought changes to national symbols, including the use of religious chants and earlier anthem traditions.
Afghanistan’s experience shows how closely national anthems can be connected to political authority.
- Iraq
Iraq has also changed its national anthem as the country’s political landscape has shifted.
During Saddam Hussein’s rule, Iraq used Ard Alfuratain as its national anthem. Following the fall of his government in 2003, the country adopted Mawtini, a popular Arab patriotic song, as its national anthem.
The change was part of a broader effort to create national symbols that were less closely associated with the former regime.
- Libya
Libya changed its national anthem after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Under Gaddafi, Libya used Allah Allah Ya Trabi as its national anthem. Following the 2011 revolution and the collapse of his government, the country returned to Libya, Libya, Libya, an anthem that had been used during the country’s earlier monarchy.
The change was symbolic of Libya’s attempt to distance itself from the Gaddafi era.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has changed its national anthem as the country has experienced major political transformations.
Following independence from Belgium in 1960, the country used Debout Congolais. During the Mobutu era, the national anthem was changed to La Zaïroise, reflecting the country’s change of name to Zaire.
After Mobutu was overthrown and the country became the Democratic Republic of the Congo again, Debout Congolais was restored.