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
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