Quick facts for kids
Le Mali
| English: Mali |
| National anthem of |
 Mali |
| Also known as |
"Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" or "Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali"
English: "For Africa and for you, Mali"
"À ton appel Mali"
English: "At your call, Mali" |
| Lyrics |
Seydou Badian Kouyaté |
| Music |
Banzumana Sissoko |
| Adopted |
9 August 1962 |
"Le Mali" (which means "The Mali" in English) is the national anthem of Mali. It was chosen as the official song for the country in 1962. The words were written by Seydou Badian Kouyaté, and the music was created by Banzumana Sissoko. People often call it "Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" ("For Africa and for you, Mali") or "À ton appel Mali" ("At your call, Mali").
History of Mali's National Anthem
The anthem was written by Seydou Badian Kouyaté around 1960. At that time, the Mali Federation with Senegal had just broken up. This left Mali without its own flag or national song.
How the Anthem Was Created
In 2010, Kouyaté shared how the anthem came to be. President Modibo Keïta asked Kouyaté to write a song. The President wanted a song to help young people remember Mamadou Konaté. Konaté was an important Malian politician before the country became independent.
Kouyaté first wrote a song called "Ô jeunesse, c'est le jour de l'Afrique, belle espoir". President Keïta then asked him to try writing something for a national anthem. Kouyaté made a first version, and he sang it with the President. Keïta liked it very much.
An African Sound for Mali
President Keïta had been offered an anthem by a European musician. But he turned it down. He wanted a song that truly felt like Africa and Mali. Kouyaté then used an old tune from the 13th century. This tune came from the time of the Mali Empire. The music for the anthem was arranged by a jeli (a traditional West African storyteller and musician) named Banzumana Sissoko.
Official Adoption
The anthem became official on August 9, 1962. This was less than a year after Mali gained its independence. In the 1960s, a group called the Malian Young Pioneers translated the anthem. They put it into the Bambara language for their meetings. This Bambara version is called "Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali". Abdulay Bari is credited with this translation. Today, the anthem is usually played at official events. The band of the Garde Républicaine (Republican Guard) of the Armed Forces of Mali performs it.
Lyrics of "Le Mali"
The national anthem has four verses and a chorus that repeats. The lyrics talk about unity, freedom, and working hard for a bright future for Mali and Africa.
| French original |
Bambara lyrics |
English translation |
[I
À ton appel Mali
Pour ta prospérité
Fidèle à ton destin
Nous serons tous unis
Un peuple, un but, une foi
Pour une Afrique Unie
Si l'ennemi découvre son front
Au dedans ou au dehors
Debout sur les remparts
Nous sommes résolus de mourir
Refrain :
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre drapeau sera liberté.
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre combat sera unité.
Ô Mali d'aujourd'hui
Ô Mali de demain
Les champs fleurissent d'espérance
Les cœurs vibrent de confiance
II
Debout villes et campagnes
Debout femmes, jeunes et vieux
Pour la patrie en marche
Vers l'avenir radieux
Pour notre dignité
Renforçons bien nos rangs
Pour le salut public
Forgeons le bien commun
Ensemble au coude à coude
Faisons le sentier du bonheur
Refrain
III
La voie est dure très dure
Qui mène au bonheur commun
Courage et dévouement
Vigilance à tout moment
Vérité des temps anciens
Vérité de tous les jours
Le bonheur par le labeur
Fera le Mali de demain
Refrain
IV
L'Afrique se lève enfin
Saluons ce jour nouveau
Saluons la liberté
Marchons vers l'unité
Dignité retrouvée
Soutient notre combat
Fidèle à notre serment
De faire l'Afrique unie
Ensemble debout mes frères
Tous au rendez-vous de l'honneur
Refrain] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)
|
I
Mali man'a kan bɔ
ɲɛtaa kɛlɛba don
An bɛɛ b'an cɛsiri
Ka lahidu tiimɛ
So, haju, ŋaniya kelen
Farafinna kelenya
Jugu man'a kun bɔ
Kɔnɔna o Kɛnɛma
Bɛɛ ka wuli k'i jɔ
Saya ka fisa malo ye
Kɔrɔsilikɛlan:
[Farafinna n'an faso Mali
Jɔnjɔn in ko: hɔrɔnya bɛrɛ
Farafinna n'an faso Mali
Kɛlɛ in ko: kelenya kɛlɛ
Un! Mali tile bɛ bi
Un! Mali tile bɛ sini
Jigiya forow funtira kayira
Denw hakili latigɛra pewu pewu
II
Duguw ni togodaw jɔli
Muso jɔlenw, denmisɛnw ni mɔgɔkɔrɔbaw
Ka ɲɛsin faso ma min bɛ taama na
Ka ɲɛsin siniɲɛsigi ɲuman ma
An ka danbe kosɔn
An ka barika don an ka jεkuluw la
Foroba lakanani kama
An ka foroba nafa forge
Sɔgɔsɔgɔninjɛ ni kamankunw ye ɲɔgɔn fɛ
An ka taama sira kan min bɛ taa nisɔndiya la
Kɔrɔsilikɛlan
III
Sira ka gɛlɛn kosɛbɛ
O min bɛ na ni nisɔndiya ye ɲɔgɔn fɛ
Ja gɛlɛya ani yɛrɛdi
Kɔlɔsili kɛ waati bɛɛ
Tiɲɛ min kɛra waati kɔrɔw la
Don o don tiɲɛ
Nisɔndiya sɔrɔli baara gɛlɛn fɛ
A bɛna Mali kɛ sini ta ye
Kɔrɔsilikɛlan
IV
Farafinna laban bɛ wuli
An ka nin don kura in fo
Foli kɛ hɔrɔnya la
An ka taama ka taa kelenya fan fɛ
Bonya sɔrɔla kokura
Aw ka dɛmɛ don an ka kɛlɛ la
Tiɲɛ don an ka kalili la
Walasa ka Afiriki kɛ kelen ye
Aw ka jɔ ɲɔgɔn fɛ ne balimaw
O bɛɛ kɛra bonya ye
Kɔrɔsilikɛlan] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)
|
I
At your call, Mali
For your prosperity
Loyal towards your destiny
We will be all united,
One people, one goal, one faith,
For a united Africa
If the enemy should show himself
Inside or outside,
Standing on the ramparts,
We are ready to die.
Chorus:
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our banner shall be liberty.
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our fight shall be for unity.
Oh, Mali of today,
Oh, Mali of tomorrow,
The fields are flowering with hope
Hearts are thrilling with confidence.
II
Standing town and country
Standing women, young and old
For the country moving
Towards a bright future
For our dignity
Let us strengthen our ranks well
For the public safety
Let us forge the common good
Together shoulder to shoulder
Let us make the path of happiness
Chorus
III
The path is hard, very hard
Which leads to common happiness
Courage and dedication
Vigilance at all times
Truth of ancient times
Truth everyday
Happiness through hard work
Will make the Mali of tomorrow
Chorus
IV
Africa finally rises
Let us welcome this new day
Let us welcome liberty
Let us march towards unity
New found dignity
Supports our fight
True to our oath
Of making Africa united
My brothers standing together
All at the appointment of honor
Chorus
|
See also
In Spanish: Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali para niños
