"" was the anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1970, through 1991, when the original anthem, "La Congolaise", was restored.
The anthem was named after a three-day uprising in 1963 that resulted in the overthrow of the first President, Fulbert Youlou.Bazenguissa-Ganga, Rémy. Les voies du politique au Congo: essai de sociologie historique. Paris: Karthala, 1997. p. 161
The lyrics were written by Henri Lopès, and the music was composed by Philippe Mockouamy. Mockouamy was at the time a colonel in the Congolese Army and served in its main military band from 1970 to 1990.
Lyrics French originalLingala translationEnglish translationI Tɛlɛmá, Mboka ya Tata ya mpiko, Yo oyo na mikolo misato ya nkembo Bokanga mpe bomema drapo Pona Kongó ya ofele pe ya sika, Nani akozanga lisusu te, Ete moto moko te akobangisa.
Tobukaki minyɔlɔlɔ na biso Tokosala mosala kozanga ete tósala milende, Tozali Ekolo oyo ezali na bokonzi.
II Soki monguna abomi ngai noki mingi, Camarade ya mpiko, kanga munduki na ngai; Mpe soki lisasi ebɛti motema na ngai, Bandeko na biso nyonso ya basi bakosekwa kozanga kobanga, Mpe bangomba na biso, mbonge na biso oyo ezali konguluma Bengana moto oyo azali kobundisa yango.
III Awa ebandi mboka Esika mutu nionso azalaka na ntalo moko. Motambwisi na biso kaka moko ezali Bato. Mayele na biso ezali kaka bato. Ye moko nde azwaki ekateli Mpo na kozongisa lokumu na ye. I Stand up, courageous homeland You who in three glorious days Seized the flag and opened the door For a free and new Congo, That never again will fail, Frighten anyone.
We've broken our chains, We will work without penalty, We are a sovereign nation.
II If the enemy kills me too early, Brave comrade, seize my gun; And if the ball touches my heart, All our sisters will stand without fear, And our mountains, our streams into a rage Will repel the invader.
III Here begins the Fatherland Where every human has the same price. Our only guide is the People. Our genius is still the People. It is he alone who decided To restore its dignity.
Notes
References
External links Congo, Republic of "Les Trois Glorieuses" (archived) People's Republic of the Congo "Les Trois Glorieuses"