# L'Aube nouvelle

"L'Aube nouvelle" ("The Dawn of a New Day") is the national anthem of Benin. Written and composed by Father Gilbert Jean Dagnon, it was adopted upon independence of the Republic of Dahomey from France in 1960.
After Dahomey became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975, the anthem was retained, but the words Dahomey and Dahoméen were changed to Bénin and Béninois.

## Lyrics

The first verse and chorus is usually only performed at official occasions.

### French original

| French lyrics | English translation |
| Refrain: Enfants du Bénin, debout ! La liberté d'un cri sonore Chante aux premiers feux de l'aurore; Enfants du Bénin, debout ! I Jadis à son appel, nos aïeux sans faiblesse Ont su avec courage, ardeur, pleins d'allégresse Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants. Accourez-vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent, Plus forts dans l'unité, chaque jour à la tâche, Pour la postérité, construisez sans relâche ! Refrain II Quand partout souffle un vent de colère et de haine, Béninois, sois fier, et d'une âme sereine, Confiant dans l'avenir, regarde ton drapeau ! Dans le vert tu liras l'espoir du renouveau, De tes aïeux le rouge évoque le courage; Des plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage. Refrain III Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure, Cher Bénin, partout font ta vive parure. Ton sol offre à chacun la richesse des fruits. Bénin, désormais que tes fils tous unis D'un fraternel élan partagent l'espérance De te voir à jamais heureux dans l'abondance. Refrain | Chorus: Children of Benin, arise! The resounding cry of freedom Is heard at the first light of dawn, Children of Benin, arise! I Formerly, at her call, our ancestors With strength, courage, ardour, and full of joy, Knew how to engage in mighty battles, but at the price of blood. Builders of present, you too, join forces Each day for the task stronger in unity. Build without ceasing for posterity. Chorus II When all around there blows a wind of anger and hate: Citizen of Benin be proud, and in a calm spirit Trusting in the future, behold your flag! In the green you read hope of spring; The red signifies the courage of your ancestors; The yellow foretells the greatest treasures. Chorus III Beloved Benin, your sunny mountains, palm trees, and green pastures Show everywhere your brightness; Your soil offers everyone the richest fruits. Benin, from henceforth your sons are united With one brotherly spirit sharing the hope of seeing you Enjoy abundance and happiness forever. Chorus |

### In local languages

| Fon lyrics | Yoruba lyrics |
| Hanyìyi: Benin tó vì lè mì, mi sité! Oó mi sité b’á nyi mi désú. Ayi dò hùnhon dayi Djiwè mi bo fon. I Hein sin hwéxónú wè yôlô Éyè ko sô akpakpa togbo miton Lè bô yé ko djè godomin lobo Kpankon bô vankan kpo xominhunhun kpán, Boyi sozonou bô kandjo Kon yanyi bi vanyan vanyan. Hanyìyi II Bénin lidótétó din ton lè mi Lo kan wézoun wá, mi sè takplé Bó man só kanlan gbéo, Ma mon gan do wa toyè zô, Nou é nanyi ta bonou vivoù vivou miton Lè kan nan wa mon gouton ba doula. Hanyìyi III Homin sin kpodo wangbènoumin Djohon do yinyi wè ló kèlô Fji tchobô bénin vi, Ma lin noudé oo vòbo go bèlèo, Ogo bonou noudé ma gba ayi donouwéo Ado kounon houn só winyan oo. Hanyìyi IV Vèdédji do sohou bo kpon asiyà tówé, Sin ton amamou lò niyi noukou dido towé, Bô vôvô lò filin wé ta é togbo towé Yé ko siyin sin houéhonou lé, Koklodjonon lô ka nan djidé wédô, Odôkoun lo ana wa mon dodoo. Hanyìyi V Bénin to tché é ô, o só é wésivô Non bala ta nan yênin nin lé o Dékan man do hiha, ayi kougban é do Agbafa fa lé wè sô do matcho nouwé, Ayondèkpè bo kénou hounou bi non bawé, guélési dé kou non hokan dayi Towédji tcho bo non mon noudou dou oo Hanyìyi VI Oo Béninn, vito wélê ni do gbékpo Bo só noukon yiyi nou, Di nonvi nonvi dohoun, bo donoukou dô wô nan djê, Wô nan djêbo wô nan djê Bô vivoù vivou towé lè nan wa mon dou, Dè é mi kon non honou wé tègbè lé éé ka nin. Hanyìyi | Egbe: Awọn ọmọ Benin, dide! Igbe igbe olominira Ti gbọ ni owurọ akọkọ ti owurọ, Awọn ọmọ Benin, dide! I Ni iṣaaju, ni ipe rẹ, awọn baba wa Mọ bi o ṣe le kopa ninu awọn ogun alagbara Pẹlu agbara, igboya, igboya, o si kun fun ayọ, ṣugbọn ni idiyele ẹjẹ. Awọn akọle ti asiko, iwọ paapaa, darapọ mọ ipa Ni ọjọ kọọkan fun iṣẹ-ṣiṣe ni okun sii ni iṣọkan. Kọ laisi diduro fun iran-iran. Egbe II Nigbati gbogbo ayika wa nfẹ afẹfẹ ibinu ati ikorira: Ara ilu ti Benin jẹ igberaga, ati ni ẹmi idakẹjẹ Gbẹkẹle ọjọ iwaju, kiyesi asia rẹ! Ninu alawọ ewe o ka ireti orisun omi; Pupa n tọka igboya ti awọn baba nla rẹ; Awọn ofeefee sọ asọtẹlẹ awọn iṣura nla julọ. Egbe III Olufẹ Benin, awọn oke-nla rẹ ti oorun, awọn igi-ọpẹ, ati awọn koriko alawọ ewe Fi imọlẹ rẹ han nibikibi; Ilẹ rẹ nfun gbogbo eniyan ni awọn eso ọlọrọ. Benin, lati isinsinyi awọn ọmọ rẹ wa ni iṣọkan Pẹlu ẹmi arakunrin kan pin ireti ti ri ọ Gbadun opo ati idunnu lailai. Egbe |