Yen Ara Asaase Ni

"Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni" (English: "This Is Our Own Native Land") is the unofficial national anthem of Ghana. It was written and composed by Ephraim Amu in 1929,[1] and is sung in the Ashanti language.

Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni
English: This Is Our Own Native Land
The national seal of Ashanti Kingdom
National anthem of  Ashanti
LyricsEphraim Amu, 1929
MusicEphraim Amu, 1929
Adopted1929
Audio sample
Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (Vocal)
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Lyrics

The patriotic song "Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni" was written by Ephraim Amu and sung in the Ashanti language and translated into English.[2] The title means "This Is Our Own Native Land"; it evokes a message of Ashanti nationalism and each generation doing their best to build on the works of the previous generation.

Yen Ara Asaase Ni (Akuapim Twi)Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (English translation)[3][4][5]

The original composition of the song, Denyigba, was by Ephraim Amu in his mother tongue Ewe. From the Ewe language he translated it into the twi dialect. It is a patriotic song meant for all Ghanaians and Africans for that matter, to rally around and not for Ashanti nationalism. Please let’s keep our history as it is and not distort it as the Europeans did to us.="2" bgcolor="#FFFF00" |First stanza

Yɛn ara asaase ni;
Ɛyɛ abɔ den den de ma yεn,

Mogya a nananom hwie gu
Nya de to hɔ ma yɛn,

Aduru me ne wo nso so,
Sε yɛbɛyɛ bi atoa so.

This is our own native land;
What a priceless heritage,
Acquired with the blood our ancestors shed for us;
It is now our turn to continue what our ancestors started,

Second stanza
Nimdeɛ ntraso, nkoto-kranne;

Ne pɛsɛmenkomenya,
Adi yɛn bra mu dεm, ama yɛn asaase hɔ dɔ atomu sɛ.

Chorus 2x:
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie o
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o;
Ɛyɛ nsɛnnahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo bra na ɛkyerɛ.

Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛ yɛ yie o!
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o!;

Ɛyɛ nsɛ nahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo mmra na yɛnnkyerɛ.
Bragging of educational achievements;

Or useless greed for material things, And bad lifestyles are destroying our nation, and disgracing it.

Chorus 2x:
Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;
Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.

Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;

Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.
Third stanza
Nhoma nimdeɛ huhugyan, ngyan ana ade anyara kwa;

Ne ɔbrakyew de ɛsɛe, ɔman na ɛbɔ no ahohora;
Asoɔmerɛ ne obupa yɔnko yiyɛ di pɛ daa,
Ahofama ntetekwaam ma nnipa biara yiyɛ de;
Ɛno mmom na ɛde asomdwee ne nkɔsoɔ pa brɛ ɔman.

Ɔman no, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie o!
Ɔman no, sɛ ɛrenyɛ yie o!;

Ɛyɛ nsɛnnahɔ sɛ, Ɔmanfo bra na ɛkyerɛ.

Obedience and respect;
Caring for the welfare of one another everyday,
Selflessness in the traditional way;
Ensures each person’s welfare,
That is what will bring peace and prosperity to our nation.

Whether or not this nation prospers!
Whether or not this nation prospers!;
Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.

References
  1. Agawu, Kofi. "The Amu Legacy: Ephraim Amu 1899-1995." (1996): 274-279.
  2. Agawu, Kofi. "The Amu Legacy: Ephraim Amu 1899-1995." (1996): 274-279.
  3. "The Ashanti National Anthem Yen ara asase ni: Dr. Ephraim Amu". museke.com. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. "Yen Ara Asase Ni". ak.kasahorow.org. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  5. "Yen Ara Asase Ni with Translation". abibitumikasa.com. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
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