View source for God Bless Fiji

{{Short description|National anthem of Fiji}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = God Bless Fiji
| alt_title     = {{lang|fj|italic=no|"Meda dau doka"}} ([[Fijian language|Fijian]] version)
| alt_title_2   = "Bhagavaan Fiji ko Aasheervaad Den" ({{lang|hif|italic=no|भगवान फिजी को आशीर्वाद दें}}) ([[Fiji Hindi language|Fiji Hindi]] version)
| image         = Flag of Fiji.svg
| prefix        = National
| country       = [[Fiji]]
| author        = Michael Francis Alexander Prescott
| composer      = [[Charles Austin Miles]] (original), 1911<br />Viliame Bale (band arrangement)
| adopted       = 1970
| sound         = Fiji National Anthem.ogg
| sound_title   = [[U.S. Navy Band]] instrumental version (one verse and chorus)
}}

'''"God Bless Fiji"''' is the [[national anthem]] of [[Fiji]]. It is called '''"Meda Dau Doka"''' ({{IPA|fj|me.ⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdo.ka|lang}}) 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">{{Cite book|last=Agency|first=Central Intelligence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jZIZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1755|title=The CIA World Factbook 2016|date=2015-11-24|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-5107-0089-5|pages=1755|language=en}}</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>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uL5BAAAAYAAJ|title=Fiji Handbook: Business and Travel Guide|date=1987|publisher=Pacific Publications|isbn=978-0-85807-060-8|language=en|page=82}}</ref> The anthem was adopted upon independence [[Colony of Fiji|from the United Kingdom]] in 1970.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Atasa|date=2021-10-10|title=Let our voices ring with pride|url=https://www.fijitimes.com/let-our-voices-ring-with-pride/|access-date=2022-01-19|website=[[The Fiji Times]]|language=en}}</ref>

== Lyrics ==
The anthem's English version is usually sung. The English and [[Fijian language|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 [[1997 Constitution of Fiji|Constitution]] and reconcile ethnic and linguistic divides, suggested that the national anthem should be in the country's three main languages: Fijian, [[Fiji Hindi|Hindi]] and English.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-08-07|title=Charter proposes common name|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=97186|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322005020/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=97186|archive-date=2012-03-22|website=[[The Fiji Times]]}}</ref> The Charter later served as the basis for the [[2013 Constitution of Fiji]].

=== English lyrics ===
{| style="margin-left: 1em;"
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>'''I'''
Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of [[Fiji]]
As we stand united under [[Flag of Fiji|noble banner blue]]
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together, God bless Fiji.

{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,{{efn|"Hail" is sometimes sung as "hails".<ref name="Bulikula">{{Cite web|last=Bulikula Art Group - Topic|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYxPOMhOnE|title=Meda Dau Doka (N) Anthem|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012846/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYxPOMhOnE|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2018-08-11|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tawakilagi Fiji|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdE-cJ68E78&t=167s|title=Tawakilagi: Fiji 7s Olympic Gold 2016 GOD BLESS FIJI|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012846/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdE-cJ68E78&t=167s|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2016-08-16|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="Seeto">{{Cite web|last=Chef Lance Seeto|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJ69tmyDsQ|title="We Are Fiji" Fijian Anthem - Laisa Vulakoro|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120045051/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJ69tmyDsQ|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2012-01-26|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref>}}
A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whatever befall{{efn|"Whatever" is sometimes sung as "whate'er",<ref name="Bulikula" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=NewEarthVoices|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcaAlQ71JSg|title=Fijian National Anthem - New Earth Voices A Cappella|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012844/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcaAlQ71JSg|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2010-07-29|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref> and "befall" is sometimes sung as "befalls".<ref name="Bulikula" /><ref name="Seeto" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=slevisham|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzodPmJ1v6M|title=National Anthem of Fiji (Vocal)|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012848/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzodPmJ1v6M|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2009-08-06|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref>}}
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.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Chorus'''}}}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=National Anthem of Fiji|url=http://www.fijiembassy.be/index.php?page_in=national_anthem|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012846/http://www.fijiembassy.be/index.php?page_in=national_anthem|archive-date=2022-01-20|access-date=2022-01-19|website=Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Belgium}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=National Anthem|url=http://www.20ccem.gov.fj/index.php/national-anthem|access-date=2022-01-19|website=20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers - Fiji}}</ref></poem>
|}

=== Fijian lyrics ===
{| class="wikitable"
![[Fijian language|Fijian]] original<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcription{{efn|See [[Help:IPA/Fijian]], [[Fijian language#Phonology|Fijian language § Phonology]] and [[Fijian language#Orthography|Fijian language § Orthography]].}}
!English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>{{lang|fj|italic=no|'''I'''
Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava{{efn|name=Me sa biu|Sometimes sung as {{lang|fj|Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga}} ({{IPA|fj|me sa ᵐbi̯u na‿i to.βo ta.ɰa ja.ŋa|}}).<ref name="Victoria">{{Cite web|last=Queen Victoria School Choir, Matavatucou - Topic|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5kH57c9Ewk|title=Meda Dau Doka|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012844/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5kH57c9Ewk|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2020-04-14|access-date=2022-01-19|website=YouTube}}</ref>}}

{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
Me bula ga ko Viti ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu{{efn|name=ra|{{lang|fj|Ra}} is sometimes omitted.<ref name="Victoria" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=DeroVolkTV|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9Z6EFSv5o|title=National Anthem of Fiji (Fijian Version) - "Meda Dau Doka" 🎵|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120033132/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9Z6EFSv5o|archive-date=2022-01-20|date=2021-09-21|access-date=2022-01-20|website=YouTube}}</ref>}}
Me ra liutaki na tamata e na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca

'''II'''
Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua{{efn|name=Me sa biu}}

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Chorus'''}}}}}}</poem>
|<poem>{{IPA|wrap=none|'''1'''
[me.ⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdo.ka ka βi.na.ka.ta na βa.nu.a]
[e ra sa ⁿdɔu̯ ti.ko ki.na na sa.βa.sa.βa]
[ra.ɰa tu na ŋɔu̯.na ni sɔu̯.tu na βei̯.lo.ma.ni]
[ᵐbi̯u na‿i to.βo ta.ɰa sa.βa.sa.βa]{{efn|name=Me sa biu}}

&nbsp;
[me ᵐbu.la ŋa ko βi.t(ʃ)i ka me to.ro ŋa ki li̯u]
[me (ra) tu.ra.ŋa βi.na.ka ko i.ra na‿i li̯u.li̯u]{{efn|name=ra}}
[me ra li̯u.ta.ki na ta.ma.ta e na βei̯.ka βi.na.ka]
[me o.ti ki.na na‿i to.βo ða]

'''2'''
[ᵐba.le ŋa βei̯ ke.mu.ni na ðɔu̯.ra.βɔu̯ e βi.t(ʃ)i]
[ni ja.βa.la me sa.βa.sa.βa na βa.nu.a]
[ni ka.ku.a ni βo.so.ta na ⁿdu.ka.ⁿdu.ka.li]
[ka me ⁿda sa ᵑɡai̯ ᵐbi̯u.ta βa.ka.ⁿdu.a]{{efn|name=Me sa biu}}

&nbsp;}}</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

{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
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

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Chorus'''}}}}</poem>
|}

=== Hindi lyrics ===
{| class="wikitable"
![[Fiji Hindi]] lyrics<ref name=":0" />
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>{{lang|hif|italic=no|'''I'''
He jagdishwar, kripa karo tum Fiji desh pe apne
Ahle watan hum teri sharan mein, teri dhwaja ke neehe
Ajaadi ki raksha aur samman sada hum karege
Sab milke badhte rahege, sarwamangal Fiji

{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
Yeh Fiji, hamara Fiji, hum sab mil gaate rahe
Yeh Fiji Hamara Fiji, yeh naara lagate rahe
Dharti hai apni, azaadi, asha aur garva ki
Kripa rahe prabhu ki, Fiji par sarwada}}</poem> 
|}

==See also==
* [[Modern history of Fiji]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{wikisource}}
{{Nationalanthemsofoceaniaandthepacificislands}}
{{Fiji topics}}

[[Category:Oceanian anthems]]
[[Category:National symbols of Fiji]]
[[Category:Music of Fiji]]
[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Songs in Fijian]]
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat major]]