| 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 |
| Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band abridged instrumental version (equivalent to the last four lines of a verse and the chorus) | |
"Le Mali" (English:"The Mali") is thenational anthem ofMali. Adopted in 1962, it was written bySeydou Badian Kouyaté, while the music is attributed toBanzumana Sissoko. It is popularly known as "Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (English:"For Africa and for you, Mali") or "À ton appel Mali" (English:"At your call, Mali").[1]
The anthem was written bySeydou Badian Kouyaté[1] around the time of the dissolution of theMali Federation withSenegal in 1960, which left Mali without a flag or anthem. In a 2010 interview, Kouyaté stated thatPresidentModibo Keïta had been passing through his locality when he approached Kouyaté and asked him to create a song to help the youth remember Malian pre-independence politicianMamadou Konaté. Kouyaté created a song called "Ô jeunesse, c'est le jour de l'Afrique, belle espoir". Keïta then called Kouyaté and told him to try creating something for the national anthem. Kouyaté made a draft for a national anthem and sang it with Keïta, who was pleased with it. Kouyaté stated that Keïta had previously received a proposal for a national anthem by a European pianist residing in the Malian capital,Bamako, but he rejected it, because he wanted something that had an aura of Africa and Mali. Kouyaté reworked anair dating back to the 13th century and theMali Empire.[2] The musical arrangement is credited tojeliBanzumana Sissoko.[1]
The anthem was officially adopted just under a year after independence, by law n° 62-72 of 9 August 1962. TheMalian Young Pioneer movement of the 1960s translated it intoBambara for its rallies as "Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali".[3] The translation is credited to Abdulay Bari.[4]: 305 It is traditionally played at state ceremonies by the band of theGarde Républicaine of theArmed Forces of Mali.[3]
| French original[3][5][6][4][7] | Bambara lyrics[4]: 305 [8][9] | English translation |
|---|---|---|
I | I | I |
