In recent years, several countries have taken the bold step of revising their anthems to better reflect contemporary values and inclusivity. On Wednesday, May 29, Nigeria reinstated their old anthem as the official national anthem of the country.
In that light, here is a rundown of five countries around the world that have recently altered their national anthems:
Australia
Australia’s national anthem, “Advance Australia Fair,” underwent a significant change on January 1, 2021. The second line of the anthem was altered from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free.” This change aimed to acknowledge the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognizing that Australia’s history spans tens of thousands of years, far preceding European settlement. This small yet significant modification reflects Australia’s commitment to unity and reconciliation with its Indigenous population.
Austria
In 2012, Austria modified its national anthem, “Land der Berge, Land am Strome” (Land of Mountains, Land by the River), to promote gender inclusivity. The original lyrics, which exclusively referenced “great sons,” were changed to “great daughters and sons.” This alteration aimed to ensure that the anthem represents all Austrians, regardless of gender, fostering a sense of equality and inclusiveness in the national narrative.
Canada
Canada made a notable change to its national anthem, “O Canada,” in 2018. The line “in all thy sons command” was changed to “in all of us command.” This modification was part of an ongoing effort to make the anthem more inclusive and reflective of all Canadians, regardless of gender. The move was widely seen as a positive step towards gender neutrality and inclusivity, aligning with contemporary Canadian values.
South Africa
South Africa’s national anthem is unique, combining excerpts from several different languages and songs, including the hymn “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” and the former anthem “Die Stem van Suid-Afrika.” In recent years, minor changes have been made to the anthem to ensure proper pronunciation and inclusivity of all languages represented. These revisions reflect South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape and its commitment to honoring the linguistic heritage of all its people.
New Zealand
In 1977, the Government announced (in a supplement to the New Zealand Gazette issue of 17 November) that the national anthems of New Zealand would be the traditional anthem ‘God Save The Queen’ and the poem ‘God Defend New Zealand’. From this point on the two anthems have had equal status. Following the accession of King Charles III to the throne in September 2022, the words of the first anthem changed to ‘God Save The King’.
