Anthem of the Republic of Kosovo facts for kids
| National anthem of | the  Republic of Kosovo |
|---|---|
| Also known as | "Himni i Republikës së Kosovës", "Himna Republike Kosovo" "Evropa" English: "Europe" |
| Music | Mendi Mengjiqi, 2008 |
| Adopted | 11 June 2008 |
The Anthem of the Republic of Kosovo is the official song of the Republic of Kosovo. It is also known as "Europe" (Evropa). Mendi Mengjiqi composed the music for this anthem.
Unlike many national anthems, Kosovo's anthem does not have official words. This is similar to the anthems of countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain. The anthem was chosen on June 11, 2008. It was picked because its music does not favor any specific group of people in Kosovo. The Assembly of Kosovo voted for it, with most members agreeing.
Contents
How the Anthem Was Chosen
On March 12, 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo started a contest. They wanted to find a national anthem for their country. The contest rules were very clear.
Rules for the Anthem Contest
- The music had to be special and new. It could not sound like any other country's anthem.
- The song needed to be between 30 and 60 seconds long.
- People could suggest words, but the final anthem would likely not have them. This was because Kosovo has many different groups of people. The government wanted an anthem that treated everyone equally.
- The song could not be like any other country's song or a political party's song. It had to show loyalty to all people in Kosovo.
- People had to send their ideas by March 31, 2008.
- The person who composed the winning song received €10,000. Other good songs also received prizes.
Unofficial Lyrics
Even though the anthem has no official words, people often use unofficial lyrics. These words are usually in Albanian. Here is what the unofficial lyrics mean in English:
O beloved motherland, land of bravery Nest of love Over you eagles fly and stars shine Land of our ancestors
Be thou blessed for life and years O our mother We will protect you
O beloved motherland, land of bravery Nest of love
Other Songs Considered
Before the current anthem was chosen, other songs were sometimes used or suggested.
"Ode to Joy"
"Ode to Joy" is the anthem of Europe. It was played when Kosovo declared its independence in 2008. This showed respect for the European Union. The EU helped Kosovo become independent. "Ode to Joy" was used as a temporary anthem for a few weeks.
"Himni i Flamurit"
"Himni i Flamurit" is the national anthem of Albania. Many people in Kosovo also used this song. It was the anthem for the unrecognized Republic of Kosova from 1990 to 1999.
"Kur ka ra kushtrimi n'Kosovë"
"Kur ka ra kushtrimi n'Kosovë" is an Albanian song. Rauf Dhomi composed it. In 2000, former President of Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova suggested it. But it was not chosen as the state anthem.
See also
In Spanish: Europa (himno) para niños
- National symbols of Kosovo
