Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox anthem

"Kassaman",<ref name="CIA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DiPiazza">Template:Cite book</ref> or "Qassaman"<ref name=Hadjab>Template:Cite journal Template:Registration required</ref> (Template:Langx, "we pledge",<ref name=CIA/><ref name=DiPiazza/> "the oath" or "we swear"<ref name=Hadjab/>), is the national anthem of Algeria. Moufdi Zakaria authored the lyrics, while the music was composed by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi. The song was adopted as the national anthem in 1962, when the country gained independence from France.

HistoryEdit

Template:Multiple image

The French invaded Ottoman Algeria in 1830 and made it an integral part of Metropolitan France within its colonial empire.<ref name=EBHistory>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> For the next century, the native population were given very few political rights.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Consequently, a nationalist movement began in the 1920s and gained traction after World War II,<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> when a commitment by the government to grant French Algeria autonomy failed to materialize.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> A prominent member of this movement was Moufdi Zakaria,<ref name=ABC-CLIO>Template:Cite book</ref> a Mozabite Berber<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> poet affiliated with the Algerian People's Party (PPA).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was jailed and tortured on several occasions between the 1920s and 1962.<ref name=ABC-CLIO/> It was during one of these experiences, in April 1955,<ref name=APS>Template:Cite news Template:Registration required</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> that he penned the words to "Kassaman".<ref name=CIA/><ref name=DiPiazza/> Since he did not have access to paper or writing instruments while incarcerated in Barberousse Prison,<ref name=APS/> Zakaria reportedly wrote the lyrics with his own blood on the walls of his jail cell.<ref name=APS/><ref name=Marshall>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Burnton>Template:Cite news</ref> The musical portion of the anthem was subsequently composed by Mohamed Fawzi,<ref name=DiPiazza/> who was asked to undertake this effort after two earlier submissions by other composers – one of which was by Template:Interlanguage link – were rejected.<ref name=APS/>

Both the lyrics and music were officially adopted in 1962;<ref name=CIA/><ref name=DiPiazza/> in that same year, the Évian Accords were signed, paving the way for a referendum in which Algerians overwhelmingly voted in favour of independence, which was duly granted.<ref name=EBHistory/> Although "Kassaman" was only intended to be a provisional national anthem, it has endured to this day.<ref name=Branche>Template:Cite journal Template:Registration required</ref>

LyricsEdit

The lyrics of "Kassaman" are reflective of a war song, This is because it promotes nationalistic ideals and principles on the front line, glorifies the actions of the National Liberation Front (FLN), as well as espousing armed uprising and how it is the sole route to attaining independence.<ref name=Branche/> It is also noteworthy in that it alludes to another country – France – specifically concerning the violent struggle against them for independence. The song foreshadows how "the day of reckoning" will befall Algeria's former colonial ruler.<ref name=Marshall/><ref name=Branche/>

Usually only the first verse of the anthem is performed for brevity, such as during sporting events. However, per decree of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, all stanzas of the anthem, including the third stanza (referring to France), must be performed at any events attended by the President of the Republic, including (but not limited to) welcome ceremonies for visiting Heads of State, presidential inaugurations, and FLN Congresses.<ref>https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/l-algerie-retablit-un-vieux-couplet-anti-france-dans-son-hymne-national-14-06-2023-2524485_23.php</ref>

Arabic original<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Transliteration IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

lang}}</poem> <poem>Template:Transliteration</poem> main}}</poem> <poem>I

𝄆 We swear by the lightning that destroys, By the streams of generous blood being shed, 𝄇 By the bright flags that wave, Flying proudly on the high mountains That we are in revolt, whether to live or to die, We are determined that Algeria should live, So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

II 𝄆 We are soldiers, for the sake of justice we revolted, And for our independence we waged war, 𝄇 When we spoke, nobody listened to us, So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm And the sound of machine guns as our melody, We are determined that Algeria should live, So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

III 𝄆 O France, the time of reproof is over And we have closed it as a book is closed; 𝄇 O France, this is the day of reckoning So prepare to receive from us our answer! In our revolution is the end of empty talk; We are determined that Algeria should live, So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

IV 𝄆 From our heroes we shall make an army come to being, From our dead we shall build up a glory, 𝄇 Our spirits shall ascend to immortality And on our shoulders we shall raise the Standard. To the nation's Liberation Front we have sworn an oath, We are determined that Algeria should live, So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

V 𝄆 The cry of the motherland sounds from the battlefields. Listen to it and answer the call! 𝄇 Let it be written with the blood of martyrs And be read to future generations. Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you, We are determined that Algeria should live, So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!</poem>

Legal protectionEdit

Even though "Kassaman" was adopted in 1962, it was not until November 2008 that an amendment to Article 5 of the Constitution of Algeria was made declaring it as "immutable", given its association with the country's revolution.<ref name=Branche/> It also confirmed that the national anthem comprises all of the song's verses, thus ending the deliberation over whether it was still appropriate to include the unfavourable reference to France in the present day.<ref name=Branche/>

NotesEdit

Template:Notelist

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Nationalanthemsofafrica

Template:Authority control