# Le Mali

"Le Mali" (English: "The Mali") is the national anthem of Mali. Adopted in 1962, it was written by Seydou Badian Kouyaté, while the music is attributed to Banzumana Sissoko. It is popularly known as "Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (English: "For Africa and for you, Mali") or "À ton appel Mali" (English: "At your call, Mali").

## History

The anthem was written by Seydou Badian Kouyaté around the time of the dissolution of the Mali Federation with Senegal in 1960, which left Mali without a flag or anthem. In a 2010 interview, Kouyaté stated that President Modibo Keïta had been passing through his locality when he approached Kouyaté and asked him to create a song to help the youth remember Malian pre-independence politician Mamadou Konaté. Kouyaté created a song called "Ô jeunesse, c'est le jour de l'Afrique, belle espoir". Keïta then called Kouyaté and told him to try creating something for the national anthem. Kouyaté made a draft for a national anthem and sang it with Keïta, who was pleased with it. Kouyaté stated that Keïta had previously received a proposal for a national anthem by a European pianist residing in the Malian capital, Bamako, but he rejected it, because he wanted something that had an aura of Africa and Mali. Kouyaté reworked an air dating back to the 13th century and the Mali Empire. The musical arrangement is credited to jeli Banzumana Sissoko.
The anthem was officially adopted just under a year after independence, by law n° 62-72 of 9 August 1962. The Malian Young Pioneer movement of the 1960s translated it into Bambara for its rallies as "Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali". The translation is credited to Abdulay Bari.$^{:305}$ It is traditionally played at state ceremonies by the band of the Garde Républicaine of the Armed Forces of Mali.

## Lyrics

| French original | Bambara lyrics$^{:305}$ | English translation |
| I À ton appel Mali Pour ta prospérité Fidèle à ton destin Nous serons tous unis Un peuple, un but, une foi Pour une Afrique Unie Si l'ennemi découvre son front Au dedans ou au dehors Debout sur les remparts Nous sommes résolus de mourir Refrain : Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali, Notre drapeau sera liberté. Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali, Notre combat sera unité. Ô Mali d'aujourd'hui Ô Mali de demain Les champs fleurissent d'espérance Les cœurs vibrent de confiance II Debout villes et campagnes Debout femmes, jeunes et vieux Pour la patrie en marche Vers l'avenir radieux Pour notre dignité Renforçons bien nos rangs Pour le salut public Forgeons le bien commun Ensemble au coude à coude Faisons le sentier du bonheur Refrain III La voie est dure très dure Qui mène au bonheur commun Courage et dévouement Vigilance à tout moment Vérité des temps anciens Vérité de tous les jours Le bonheur par le labeur Fera le Mali de demain Refrain IV L'Afrique se lève enfin Saluons ce jour nouveau Saluons la liberté Marchons vers l'unité Dignité retrouvée Soutient notre combat Fidèle à notre serment De faire l'Afrique unie Ensemble debout mes frères Tous au rendez-vous de l'honneur Refrain | I Mali man'a kan bɔ ɲɛtaa kɛlɛba don An bɛɛ b'an cɛsiri Ka lahidu tiimɛ So, haju, ŋaniya kelen Farafinna kelenya Jugu man'a kun bɔ Kɔnɔna o Kɛnɛma Bɛɛ ka wuli k'i jɔ Saya ka fisa malo ye Laminɛni: Farafinna n'an faso Mali Jɔnjɔn in ko: hɔrɔnya bɛrɛ Farafinna n'an faso Mali Kɛlɛ in ko: kelenya kɛlɛ Un! Mali tile bɛ bi Un! Mali tile bɛ sini Jigiya forow funtira kayira Denw hakili latigɛra pewu pewu II Wuli so ni kungo Muso cɛ ni denmisɛn Wuli ɲɛtaa kama Bɛɛ ka wasa sini Faso danbe kama An ka an ka jɛ sinsin Jama hɛrɛ kosɔn Foroba ka yiriwa ka An bolo di ɲɔgɔn ma Ka daamu forobaci kɛ. Laminɛni III Sira ka gɛlɛn haali Jamana nafa sira Dusu ani kaari Badaa janto jugu la Tiɲɛ kunun tiɲɛ Tiɲɛ bi ni sini Mali bɔ nɔgɔ la o Sabu dan ye baara ye. Laminɛni IV Farafinna dan ka wuli Taare ! fiɲɛ kura Taare ! mahɔrɔnya Kelenya sira magɛn Danbe seginna an ma Ka cɛsiri sinsin Farafinna kelenya Layidu tiimɛ kama A’ ye wuli n badenw Bɛɛ ka ye o dawulakɛnɛ kan. Laminɛni | I At your call, Mali For your prosperity Loyal towards your destiny We will be all united, One people, one goal, one faith, For a united Africa If the enemy should show himself Inside or outside, Standing on the ramparts, We are ready to die. Chorus: For Africa and for you, Mali, Our banner shall be liberty. For Africa and for you, Mali, Our fight shall be for unity. Oh, Mali of today, Oh, Mali of tomorrow, The fields are flowering with hope Hearts are thrilling with confidence. II Standing town and country Standing women, young and old For the country moving Towards a bright future For our dignity Let us strengthen our ranks well For the public salvation Let us forge the common good Together shoulder to shoulder Let us make the path of happiness Chorus III The path is hard very hard Which leads to common happiness Courage and dedication Vigilance at all times Truth of ancient times Truth everyday Happiness through labour Will make the Mali of tomorrow Chorus IV Africa finally rises Let us welcome this new day Let us welcome liberty Let us march towards unity New found dignity Support our fight True to our oath Of making Africa united My brothers standing together All at the appointment of honour Chorus |