God Bless Fiji

"God Bless Fiji" is the national anthem of Fiji. It is called "Meda Dau Doka" (Template:IPA) in Fijian and "Bhagavaan Fiji ko Aasheervaad Den" (भगवान फिजी को आशीर्वाद दें) in Fiji Hindi. The lyrics were written by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott (1928–2006) to the tune of the hymn "Dwelling in Beulah Land" by Charles Austin Miles (1911),<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":3" /> and the music was adapted by Viliame Bale,<ref name=":3" /> Superintendent and Director of Music in the Royal Fiji Police Band.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The anthem was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Lyrics

The anthem's English version is usually sung. The English and Fijian lyrics are not translations of each other and have very little in common.<ref name=":2" />

In August 2008, the draft version of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, a government document intended to supplement the Constitution and reconcile ethnic and linguistic divides, suggested that the national anthem should be in the country's three main languages: Fijian, Hindi and English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Charter later served as the basis for the 2013 Constitution of Fiji.

English lyrics

<poem>I Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji As we stand united under noble banner blue And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever Onward march together, God bless Fiji. Template:Small For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,Template:Efn A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whatever befallTemplate:Efn May God bless Fiji forever more! II Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever Onward march together, God bless Fiji. Template:Yesitalic<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref></poem>

Fijian lyrics

Fijian original<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />	IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn	English translation
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:IPA</poem>	<poem>I Let us show our pride and honour our nation Where righteous people reside Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere Abandon deeds that are immoral Template:Small Let Fiji live on and progress onwards May our leaders be honourable men Let them lead our people to great things And bring an end to all things immoral II The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji Be the strength to cleanse our nation Be wary and not harbour malice For we must abandon such sentiments forever Template:Yesitalic</poem>

Hindi lyrics

Fiji Hindi lyrics<ref name=":0" />
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>

See also

• Modern history of Fiji