July 12, 2022 — The patriotic joy citizens of any nation cheer on, is the celebration of the country independence. Independence Days are mark to honor the sacrifices each nation heroes and heroines had made by giving their precious life so that the country could be free from others domination. Tomorrow, South Sudan will celebrate its eleven years independence. Some people will celebrate July 9th by getting together with their loved ones. Others will celebrate it by expressing their gratitude to 2.5 million mostly South Sudanese people who had perished as the result of the struggle for South Sudan freedom, and the memory of all men, women’s and children who unjustifiably had been killed by our own government since 2013 and present.
Beside paying tribute to only our martyrs, including those who lost limbs in both the revolutionary war and South Sudan’s internal, aimless civil war, my tribute this year is dedicated in part to the honor of Mido Samuel Dedi the composer of South Sudan’s National Anthem.
The Republic of South Sudan National Anthem was created in 2010. On August 7, 2010, a committee were formed to oversee the composing of the country national anthem as the people of Southern Sudan remained for only five months away from determining their political destiny in the upcoming referendum. A technical committee to communicate with musicians as well as a Taskforce to report their findings to were formed led by Joseph Abuk. Although the task for creating the name of the emerging independent country, its national anthem as well as its flag is officially entrusted to the formed technical committee and Taskforce chaired by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, many organizations or institutions in the government as well as individuals were invited to brainstorm on the would-be name of the future independent state and its national anthem in addition to how its flag would look like. South Sudan National Anthem technical Committee asked a group of 49 song writers to come up with an anthem for the country. In a workshop, a group of participants were informed that seven components have to be considered in the national anthem and this would include, but not limited to, History, Land, People, Struggle, Sacrifices, Destination and Flag. At first, many voices were calling for the country to be called “Republic of Cush” before the Endonym/autonym South Sudan won. Then previously used flag of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, was also adopted. After that, the focus was limited to the guidelines provided by the army and government, which stated that the anthem had to include mentions of the country history, people, and resources, as well as being told about the struggle for independence, lyrics were then chosen by means of a televised competition.
Originally under the working title “Land of Cush” in reference to a Biblical kingdom in Isaiah 18 which is roughly located in the area of South Sudan was chosen before the lyrics were revised several times in the following months after the successful independence referendum. Thus, a final version was settled in March, 2011, and that final version slightly altered the wording among other things replacing the word “Cush” with “South Sudan as it had been adopted by the parliament.
At the end, the Lyrics of the national anthem was composed as follow, “Oh God, We praise and glorify You, For Your grace on South Sudan, Land of great abundance, Uphold us united in peace and harmony. Oh Motherland We rise raising flag with the guiding star, And singing songs of freedom with joy; For justice, liberty and prosperity Shall forever more reign! Oh great patriots Let us stand up in silence and respect, Saluting our martyrs whose blood Cemented our national foundation, We vow to protect our nation. Oh God, bless South Sudan!” The composer of the anthem for the Republic of South Sudan Mido Samuel Dedi explained the meaning of the song as that, the first stanza; “Oh God, we praise and glorify you” as dedicated to God who spiritually helped South Sudanese to come together and fight against the Khartoum consecutive regimes. He said that south Sudanese were only able to fight the liberation wars of Anya-nya One (1955-72) Anyanya two (1975-83) and Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Army/Movement of 1983 – 2005 with the help of God. The third verse that goes; “Oh our great patriots let us stand up in silence and respect, saluting our great martyrs whose blood cemented our National foundation” symbolizes the many South Sudanese who lost their lives during the twenty-one years of civil war with North Sudan. After the National Anthem was approved, Juba University who first sang the song in front of government officials, travelled to States to teach others so that they will be able to sing the song during the proclamation of the independence.
From 2011, South Sudanese engaged in learning the lyric of their symbol of unity. However, in 2019, President Salva Kiir’s issued directive on banning the singing of the national anthem at any public event in his absence. The directive was announced by the minister of information, Michael Makuei after the weekly cabinet meeting. Makuei, stated that the country national anthem was being misused by mainly government officials. The announcement generate reaction to many south Sudanese. Generally, national anthem is a symbol of the nation, it should be sung by every citizen. Its theme should be upheld and practiced in the country or else it will never be considered euphonic item but rather a cacophonic piece that nobody bothers to listen to or practice its contents.
The national anthem is one of the indicators for citizens’ ownership of the national and affiliation to the nation. Schools students, Boy Scouts, girl guards and South Sudanese in front of foreigners in foreign events all can identify themselves with national anthem plus other occasions. Being proud of your nation is by owning or demonstrating affiliation by singing the anthem or publicly holding a national flag. National symbols are very instrumental items for a country’s peace, unity and prosperity, they should not be restricted to be sung in present of the president, it never been seen like that in any nation around the globe.
In summing, independence days are days people celebrate by paying tributes to the life and sacrifice of those who fought and pay the ultimate price. Citizens are usually grateful to those who shed their blood and left their comfort at home. Just to give us freedom. Although one know for certaint, independence day is to honor those who gave their life, one felt, Mido Samuel Dedi the composer of South Sudan National Anthem deserve honor as well for composing one of the best patriotic song that honored the our History, Land, People, Struggle, Sacrifices, and Destination!
Have a blessing Independence Day, July 9th to all South Sudan Citizens.
Respectively,
The author, Lul Gatkuoth Gatluak, can be reached through email at lulgatluak09@gmail.com
The author, Peter Malieth Malek, is a Public Health Specialist. He can be reached through his email at maliethpeter17@gmail.com.
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