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God Bless Fiji

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God Bless Fiji
National anthem of Fiji
Also known as"Meda dau doka" (Fijian version)
"भगवान फिजी को आशीर्वाद दें" (Fiji Hindi version)
LyricsMichael Francis Alexander Prescott
MusicCharles Austin Miles (original), 1911
Viliame Bale (band arrangement)
Adopted1970
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse and chorus)

"God Bless Fiji" is the national anthem of Fiji. It is in called "Meda Dau Doka" (Fijian: [me.ⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdo.ka]) in Fijian and "भगवान फिजी को आशीर्वाद दें" in Fiji Hindi. The lyrics were written by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott (1928–2006) to the tune of the hymn "Dwelling in Beulah Land" by Charles Austin Miles (1911),[1][2] and the music was adapted by Viliame Bale,[2] Superintendent and Director of Music in the Royal Fiji Police Band.[2][3] The anthem was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.[2]

Lyrics

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The anthem's English version is usually sung. The English and Fijian lyrics are not translations of each other and have very little in common.[1]

In August 2008, the draft version of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, a government document intended to supplement the Constitution and reconcile ethnic and linguistic divides, suggested that the national anthem should be in the country's three main languages: Fijian, Hindi and English.[4] The Charter later served as the basis for the 2013 Constitution of Fiji.

English lyrics

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I
Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together, God bless Fiji.

Chorus:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,[a]
A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whatever befall[b]
May God bless Fiji forever more!

II
Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together, God bless Fiji.

Chorus[10][11]

Fijian lyrics

[edit]
Fijian original[10][11] IPA transcription[c] English translation

I
Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava[d]

Chorus:
Me bula ga ko Viti ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu[e]
Me ra liutaki na tamata e na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca

II
Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua[d]

Chorus

1
[me.ⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdo.ka ka βi.na.ka.ta na βa.nu.a]
[e ra sa ⁿdɔu̯ ti.ko ki.na na sa.βa.sa.βa]
[ra.ɰa tu na ŋɔu̯.na ni sɔu̯.tu na βei̯.lo.ma.ni]
[ᵐbi̯u na‿i to.βo ta.ɰa sa.βa.sa.βa][d]

 
[me ᵐbu.la ŋa ko βi.t(ʃ)i ka me to.ro ŋa ki li̯u]
[me (ra) tu.ra.ŋa βi.na.ka ko i.ra na‿i li̯u.li̯u][e]
[me ra li̯u.ta.ki na ta.ma.ta e na βei̯.ka βi.na.ka]
[me o.ti ki.na na‿i to.βo ða]

2
[ᵐba.le ŋa βei̯ ke.mu.ni na ðɔu̯.ra.βɔu̯ e βi.t(ʃ)i]
[ni ja.βa.la me sa.βa.sa.βa na βa.nu.a]
[ni ka.ku.a ni βo.so.ta na ⁿdu.ka.ⁿdu.ka.li]
[ka me ⁿda sa ᵑɡai̯ ᵐbi̯u.ta βa.ka.ⁿdu.a][d]

 

I
Let us show our pride and honour our nation
Where righteous people reside
Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere
Abandon deeds that are immoral

Chorus:
Let Fiji live on and progress onwards
May our leaders be honourable men
Let them lead our people to great things
And bring an end to all things immoral

II
The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji
Be the strength to cleanse our nation
Be wary and not harbour malice
For we must abandon such sentiments forever

Chorus

Hindi lyrics

[edit]
Fiji Hindi lyrics[11]

I
He jagdishwar, kripa karo tum Fiji desh pe apne
Ahle watan hum teri sharan mein, teri dhwaja ke neehe
Ajaadi ki raksha aur samman sada hum karege
Sab milke badhte rahege, sarwamangal Fiji

Chorus:
Yeh Fiji, hamara Fiji, hum sab mil gaate rahe
Yeh Fiji Hamara Fiji, yeh naara lagate rahe
Dharti hai apni, azaadi, asha aur garva ki
Kripa rahe prabhu ki, Fiji par sarwada

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Hail" is sometimes sung as "hails".[5][6][7]
  2. ^ "Whatever" is sometimes sung as "whate'er",[5][8] and "befall" is sometimes sung as "befalls".[5][7][9]
  3. ^ See Help:IPA/Fijian, Fijian language § Phonology and Fijian language § Orthography.
  4. ^ a b c d Sometimes sung as Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga ([me sa ᵐbi̯u na‿i to.βo ta.ɰa ja.ŋa]).[12]
  5. ^ a b Ra is sometimes omitted.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Agency, Central Intelligence (2015-11-24). The CIA World Factbook 2016. Simon and Schuster. p. 1755. ISBN 978-1-5107-0089-5.
  2. ^ a b c d Williams, Atasa (2021-10-10). "Let our voices ring with pride". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  3. ^ Fiji Handbook: Business and Travel Guide. Pacific Publications. 1987. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-85807-060-8.
  4. ^ "Charter proposes common name". The Fiji Times. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22.
  5. ^ a b c Bulikula Art Group - Topic (2018-08-11). "Meda Dau Doka (N) Anthem". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ Tawakilagi Fiji (2016-08-16). "Tawakilagi: Fiji 7s Olympic Gold 2016 GOD BLESS FIJI". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ a b Chef Lance Seeto (2012-01-26). ""We Are Fiji" Fijian Anthem - Laisa Vulakoro". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ NewEarthVoices (2010-07-29). "Fijian National Anthem - New Earth Voices A Cappella". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ slevisham (2009-08-06). "National Anthem of Fiji (Vocal)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ a b "National Anthem of Fiji". Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Belgium. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  11. ^ a b c "National Anthem". 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers - Fiji. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  12. ^ a b Queen Victoria School Choir, Matavatucou - Topic (2020-04-14). "Meda Dau Doka". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ DeroVolkTV (2021-09-21). "National Anthem of Fiji (Fijian Version) - "Meda Dau Doka" 🎵". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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