Ala Khallidi

"’Alā Khallidī" (Arabic: ألا خلّدي) is the former national anthem of Tunisia. It was sung during the Presidency of Habib Bourguiba until his downfall in 1987. Humat al-Hima was temporarily used as a national anthem between the end of the monarchy on 25 July 1957 and the adoption of Ala Khallidi as the official national anthem. In 1958, the Ministry of Education organized a competition, in which 53 poets and 23 musicians took part. The results were examined first by a commission of the Board of Education, which selected the submissions of the hymn poet Jalaleddine Naccache (1910–1989) and the composer and director of the Conservatoire of Tunis Salah El Mahdi (1925-2014). The works were presented to the president without announcing the selection that already been made. He selected the same version as the commission had. In order to be completely sure, another larger popular assembly was held in Monastir, the birth city of the president, and all 23 melodies were played. But then, the song by Naccache and El Mahdi won and was formally adopted during Independence Day, 20 March that same year.

Humat al-Hima replaced Ala Khallidi following the coup which brought Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to power on 7 November 1987.

Lyrics

Arabic lyrics Transliteration English versification

 
ألا خلّدي يا دمانا الغوالي
جهاد الوطن
لتحرير خضرائنا لا نبالي
بأقسى المحن
جهاد تحلّى بنصر مبين
على الغاصبين على الظالمين
طغاة الزمن
نخوض اللهيب بروح الحبيب
زعيم الوطن
أرى الحكم للشعب فابنوا لنا
من المجد أعلى صروح تشاد
أجيبوا أجيبوا لأوطاننا
نداء اﻷخوة والاتحاد
وذودوا العدى عن حمى أرضنا
وكونوا أسودا ليوم الجلاد
 
ورثنا الجلاد ومجد النضال
وفي أرضنا مصرع الغاصبين
وصالت أساطيلنا في النزال
تموج بأبطالنا الفاتحين
لواء الكفاح بهذا الشمال
رفعناه يوم الفدى باليمين
 
شباب العلى عزّنا بالحمى
وعزّ الحمى بالشباب العتيد
لنا همّة طالت اﻷنجما
تعيد المعالي وتبني الجديد
فحيّوا اللّوا خافقا في السّما
بعزّ وفخر ونصر مجيد

Chorus:
’Alā khallidī yā dimānā al-ghawālī
Jihād al-waṭan
Li-taḥrīri khaḍrā’inā lā nubālī
Bi-’aqsá al-miḥan
Jihādun taḥallá bi-naṣrin mubīn
‘Alá al-ghāṣibīn ‘alá aẓ-ẓālimīn
Ṭughāt iz-zaman
Nakhūḍ ul-lahīb bi-rūḥ il-Ḥabīb
Za‘īm il-waṭan
’Ará al-ḥukma li-sh-sha‘bi fa-abnū lanā
Min al-majdi ’a‘lá ṣurūḥin tushād
’Ajībū ’ajībū li-’awṭāninā
Nidā’ al-’ukhuwwati wa-al-ittiḥād
Wa-dhūdū ul-‘idá ‘an ḥimá ’arḍinā
Wa-kūnū ’usūdan li-yawm il-jilād
Chorus
Wa-rithnā al-jilāda wa-majd an-niḍāl
Wa-fī ’arḍinā maṣra‘ ul-ghāṣibīn
Wa-ṣālat ’asāṭīlunā fi in-nizāl
Tamūju bi-’abṭālinā al-fātiḥīn
Liwā’ ul-kifāḥi bi-hadhā ash-shamāl
Rafa‘nāhu yawm al-fidá bi-il-yamīn
Chorus
Shabāb ul-‘ulá ‘izzunā bi-l-ḥimá
Wa-‘izzu ul-ḥimá bi-sh-shabāb il-‘atīd
Lanā himmatun ṭālat il-’anjumā
Tu‘īd ul-ma‘āli wa-tabnī il-jadīd
Faḥayyū ul-liwā khāfiqan fi-s-samā
Bi-‘izzin wa-fakhrin wa-naṣrin majīd
Chorus
Chorus:
Immortal and precious the blood we have shed for
our dear fatherland.
In order to free our green land any hardship
we gladly will stand.
The fight is made sweet by a victory sure,
Removing the yoke we've had to endure.
The fire we confront as faithful we keep
The spirit of our great leader Habib.
 
The people are sov'reign and so let us raise
Of glory a citadel for all to see.
O answer, O answer our fatherland's call
To true brotherhood and to true unity.
Be ready, like lions prepared for the fight,
Defending our country from each enemy.
Chorus
The glory and fight we inherit today.
Oppressors were fought here on this battleground.
Our legions in fury attacked in the field,
As heroes in waves let their war-cries resound.
The banner of war in the North we have raised,
By oath we to ransom our land all are bound.
Chorus
O noble the youth, our defence you assure,
Defending our honour, as ready you be.
Our strong aspirations reach up to the sky
That greatness return and a new day we see.
The flag, as it waves in the sky, now salute
With honour and glory and great victory.
Chorus

External links

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