# La Dessalinienne

"La Dessalinienne" (pronounced; lit. ''The Dessaline'') is the national anthem of Haiti. This march was written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard.

## Etymology

"La Dessalinienne" is named in honor of Haiti's revolutionary leader and first ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The title was suggested by historian Clément Lanier.

## History

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, a competition was held for a national anthem in 1903. The poetic words of Justin Lhérisson and martial composition of Nicolas Geffrard won over the judges, who preferred it to "L'Artibonitienne" by Capois diplomat Louis Edouard Pouget.
The anthem was premiered at an October 1903 celebration of the Armée Indigène's entry into Port-au-Prince organised by the Association du Petit Théâtre. It was sung by Auguste de Pradines, also known as Kandjo.$^{:47}$ The text and music were printed at Bernard's in Port-au-Prince and distributed throughout the country during the week. It was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1904.

## Lyrics

As a one-verse rendition can be relatively short, a common way to lengthen a performance is to perform an abridged arrangement consisting of the first verse immediately followed by the last.

### Official lyrics

| | Literal translation |
| French original IPA transcription Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres, Marchons unis, marchons unis. Dans nos rangs point de traîtres ! Du sol soyons seuls maîtres. Marchons unis, marchons unis Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres, Marchons, marchons, marchons unis, Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres… Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux Quand le champ fructifie L'âme se fortifie Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie Bêchons, bêchons, bêchons joyeux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie. Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères Formons des Fils, formons des Fils Libres, forts et prospères Toujours nous serons frères Formons des Fils, formons des Fils Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères Formons, formons, formons des Fils Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères. Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux ! Sous ta garde infinie Prends nos droits, notre vie O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux ! Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie. Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie Mourir est beau, mourir est beau ! Notre passé nous crie : Ayez l'âme aguerrie! Mourir est beau, mourir est beau Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie. [pu lə pe.ji pu le‿z.ã.sɛ.tɣə |] [ma.ʃɔ̃ y.ni ma.ʃɔ̃ y.ni ‖] [dã no ɣã pwɛ̃ də tɣɛ.tɣə |] [dy sɔl swa.jɔ̃ sœl mɛ.tɣə ‖] [ma.ʃɔ̃ y.ni ma.ʃɔ̃ y.ni |] [pu lə pe.ji pu le‿z.ã.sɛ.tɣə ‖] [ma.ʃɔ̃ ma.ʃɔ̃ ma.ʃɔ̃ y.ni |] [pu lə pe.ji pu le‿z.ã.sɛ.tɣə ‖] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə |] [bɛ.ʃɔ̃ ʒwa.jø bɛ.ʃɔ̃ ʒwa.jø ‖] [kã lə ʃã fɣyk.ti.fi.jə |] [la.mə sə fɔ.ti.fi.jə ‖] [bɛ.ʃɔ̃ ʒwa.jø bɛ.ʃɔ̃ ʒwa.jø |] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] [bɛ.ʃɔ̃ bɛ.ʃɔ̃ bɛ.ʃɔ̃ ʒwa.jø |] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] [pu lə pe.ji e pu no pɛ.ɣə |] [fɔ.mɔ̃ de fil fɔ.mɔ̃ de fil ‖] [li.bɣə fɔ e pɣɔs.pɛ.ɣə |] [tu.ʒu nu sə.ɣɔ̃ fɣɛ.ɣə ‖] [fɔ.mɔ̃ de fil fɔ.mɔ̃ de fil |] [pu lə pe.ji e pu no pɛ.ɣə ‖] [fɔ.mɔ̃ fɔ.mɔ̃ fɔ.mɔ̃ de fil |] [pu lə pe.ji e pu no pɛ.ɣə ‖] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə |] [o djø de pɣø o djø de pɣø ‖] [su ta ga.d‿ɛ̃.fi.ni.jə |] [pɣã no dɣwa nɔ.tʁə vi.jə ‖] [o djø de pɣø o djø de pɣø |] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] [o djø o djø o djø de pɣø |] [pu le‿z.a.jø pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] [pu lə dɣa.po pu la pa.tɣi.jə |] [mu.ɣi ɛ bo mu.ɣi ɛ bo ‖] [nɔ.tʁə pa.se nu kɣi.jə |] [ɛ.je la.m‿a.gɛ.ɣi.jə ‖] [mu.ɣi ɛ bo mu.ɣi ɛ bo |] [pu lə dɣa.po pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] [mu.ɣi mu.ɣi mu.ɣi ɛ bo |] [pu lə dɣa.po pu la pa.tɣi.jə ‖] | For the Country, for the Ancestors, Let us march united, let us march united. Let there be no traitors in our ranks! Let us be the only masters of our soil. Let us march united, let us march united For the Country, for the Ancestors, Let us march, let us march, let us march united, For the Country, for the Ancestors… For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous. When the field fructifieth The soul fortifieth Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil, let us toil, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland. For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train Sons, let us train Sons Free, strong and prosperous We shall always be brothers Let us train Sons, Let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train, let us train, let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers. For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland O Lord of the Valiant, O Lord of the Valiant! Under Thine infinite protection Take our rights, our life O Lord of the Valiant, O Lord of the Valiant! For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland O Lord, O Lord, O Lord of the Valiant For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland. For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful! Our past crieth out to us: Have a hardened soul! To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die, to die, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland. |

### Unofficial lyrics

A Haitian Creole version was created by Raymond A. Moise, and Haitian singer Ansy Dérose (1934–1998) helped popularize it in 1980. Although it became widely accepted, it is not official.
| | Literal translation |
| Haitian Creole original IPA transcription Pou Ayiti peyi Zansèt yo Se pou n mache men nan lamen Nan mitan n pa fèt pou gen trèt Nou fèt pou n sèl mèt tèt nou. Annou mache men nan lamen Pou Ayiti ka vin pi bèl Annou, annou, met tèt ansanm Pou Ayiti onon tout Zansèt yo. Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo Se pou n sekle se pou n plante Se nan tè tout fòs nou chita Se li k ba nou manje Ann bite tè, ann voye wou Ak kè kontan, fòk tè a bay Sekle, wouze, fanm tankou gason Pou-n rive viv ak sèl fòs ponyèt nou. Pou Ayiti ak pou Zansèt yo Fo nou kapab vanyan gason Moun pa fèt pou ret avèk moun Se sa k fè tout Manman ak tout Papa Dwe pou voye Timoun lekòl Pou yo aprann, pou yo konnen Sa Tousen, Desalin, Kristòf, Petyon Te fè pou wet Ayisyen anba kòd blan. Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo Ann leve tèt nou gad anlè Pou tout moun mande Granmèt la Pou l ba nou pwoteksyon Pou move zanj pa detounen n Pou-n ka mache nan bon chimen Pou libète ka libète Fòk lajistis blayi sou peyi a! Nou gen drapo tankou tout pèp Se pou n renmen l mouri pou li Se pa kado blan te fè nou Se san Zansèt nou yo ki te koule Pou nou kenbe drapo nou wo Se pou n travay met tèt ansanm. Pou lòt peyi ka respekte l Drapo sila a se nanm tout Ayisyen. [pu a.ji.ti pe.ji zã.sɛt jo] [se pun ma.ʃe mɛ̃ nã la.mɛ̃] [nã mi.tãn pa fɛt pu gɛ̃ tɣɛt] [nu fɛt pun sɛl mɛt tɛt nu] [ã.nu ma.ʃe mɛ̃ nã la.mɛ̃] [pu a.ji.ti ka vin pi bɛl] [ã.nu ã.nu met tɛt ã.sãm] [pu a.ji.ti o.nɔ̃ tut zã.sɛt jo] [pu a.ji.ti o.nɔ̃ zã.sɛt jo] [se pun se.kle se pun plã.te] [se nã tɛ tut fɔs nu ʃi.ta] [se lik ba nu mã.ʒe] [ãn bi.te tɛ ãn vo.je wu] [ak kɛ kɔ̃.tã fɔk tɛ a baj] [se.kle wu.ze fãm tã.ku ga.sɔ̃] [pun ɣi.ve viv ak sɛl fɔs pɔ̃.jɛt nu] [pu a.ji.ti ak pu zã.sɛt jo] [fo nu ka.pab vã.jã ga.sɔ̃] [mun pa fɛt pu ɣet a.vɛk mun] [se sak fɛ tut mã.mã ak tut pa.pa] [dwe pu vo.je ti.mũ le.kɔl] [pu jo a.pɣãn pu jo kɔ̃.nɛ̃] [sa tu.sɛ̃ de.sa.lin kɣis.tɔf pe.tjɔ̃] [te fɛ pu wet a.ji.sjɛ̃ ã.ba kɔd blã] [pu a.ji.ti o.nɔ̃ zã.sɛt jo] [ãn le.ve tɛt nu gad ã.lɛ] [pu tut mun mã.de gɣã.mɛt la] [pul ba nu pwo.tek.sjɔ̃] [pu mo.ve zãʒ pa de.tu.nɛ̃n] [pun ka ma.ʃe nã bɔ̃ ʃi.mɛ̃] [pu li.bɛ.te ka li.bɛ.te] [fɔk la.ʒis.tis bla.ji su pe.ji a] [nu gɛ̃ dɣa.po tã.ku tut pɛp] [se pun rɛ̃.mɛ̃l mu.ɣi pu li] [se pa ka.do blã te fɛ nu] [se sã zã.sɛt nu jo ki te ku.le] [pu nu kɛ̃.be dɣa.po nu wo] [se pun tɣa.vaj met tɛt ã.sãm] [pu lɔt pe.ji ka ɣes.pek.tel] [dɣa.po si.la a se nãm tut a.ji.sjɛ̃] | For Haiti, the Country of the Ancestors we must walk hand in hand There must not be traitors among us – We alone must be our master Let us walk hand in hand that Haiti may be more beautiful Let us put our heads together for Haiti on behalf of all the ancestors For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us mow, let us sow. All our strength rests in the soul – It is what feeds us. Let us mound up earth, let us send water With joy, the earth must be fertile Mow, water, women and men that we may live by our own arms' strength alone. For Haiti and for the Ancestors We must be courageous, capable men. People are not born to serve others That is why all mothers and fathers Need to send children to school, to learn, to know what Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion did to take Haitians from under the whites' rope. For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us raise our head and look above. Let everyone to ask the Lord to grant us protection that the evil angels may not divert us, that we may walk in the right path. For liberty to be able to liberate, justice must spread over the country! We have a flag like all peoples. Let us love it, die for it. It was not a gift from the whites – It was our Ancestors' blood that was shed. Let us hold our flag high. Let us work together and focus that other countries may respect it This flag is the soul of every Haitian. |