Soyons unis, devenons frères
| English: Let us unite, let us become brothers | |
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anthem of  New Caledonia
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| Lyrics | Melodia choral, 2008 |
| Music | Melodia choral, 2008 |
| Adopted | 2010 |
Soyons unis, devenons frères (Let us unite, let us become brothers) is the officially recognised anthem of New Caledonia.
It is not, however, the national anthem. New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, and remains under the sovereignty of the French Republic. Its national anthem is the national anthem of France, La Marseillaise.
In 1998, the Nouméa Accord delegated greater autonomy to the territory, and provided that its people would ultimately have the right to vote for full independence, in 2014 at the earliest and in 2018 at the latest. In the meantime, the Accord provides for the gradual recognition of five "identity signs". In August 2010, the Congress of New Caledonia adopted the first three of those signs: an anthem, a motto ("Terre de parole, terre de partage"; "Land of speech, land of sharing"), and local symbols on New Caledonian currency. (There is no agreement yet as to the other two signs: recognition of a flag and a potential new name for the territory.) Congress' deputies have reserved the possibility of amending the lyrics of the anthem at a later date.
During any official ceremony or sport event, La Marseillaise is performed first, followed by Soyons unis, devenons frères.
The anthem was first written in 2008 by seven New Caledonian children working in the framework of the Melodia choral. It consists, in its long version, in three couplets and a chorus. The couplets are sung in French; the chorus is sung in Nengone then in French. There are plans to translate it eventually into other indigenous languages. When only the short version of the anthem is sung, its consists in the third couplet and (in both languages) the chorus.
1st couplet
O terre sacrée de nos ancêtres,
Lumière éclairant nos vies,
Tu les invites à nous transmettre
Leurs rêves, leurs espoirs, leurs envies.
A l’abri des pins colonnaires,
A l’ombre des flamboyants,
Dans les vallées de tes rivières,
Leur coeur toujours est présent.
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Wikipedia