# La Zaïroise

"La Zaïroise" (French for "The Zairian") was the national anthem of Zaire, from 1971 to 1997. The lyrics were written by Joseph Lutumba, and the music was composed by Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi.

## Lyrics
### Official lyrics

| French original | English translation |
| Zaïrois dans la paix retrouvée, Peuple uni, nous sommes Zaïrois En avant fier et plein de dignité Peuple grand, peuple libre à jamais Tricolore, enflamme nous du feu sacré Pour bâtir notre pays toujours plus beau 𝄆 Autour d'un fleuve Majesté 𝄇 Tricolore au vent, ravive l'idéal Qui nous relie aux aïeux, à nos enfants 𝄆 Paix, justice et travail. 𝄇 | Zairians, in the newfound peace, United people, we are Zairians; Moving forward, proud and dignified. Great people, free people forever. Tricolored flag, light in us the sacred flame, In order to always build a beautiful country, 𝄆 Around the majestic river. 𝄇 Tricolored flag in the wind, revive the ideal, Which links us to our ancestors and our children, 𝄆 Peace, justice, and labor. 𝄇 |

### In local languages

| Kikongo lyrics | Lingala lyrics | Swahili lyrics | Tshiluba lyrics |
| Beto besi Nzadi, tu vutukidi mu luvuvamu, Nkangu wa simbana, tu besi Nzadi Ku ntuala, ye lendo yo luzitu Nkangu wabidi, nkangu muna kimpwanza kia mvu ke mvu Se bitatu, ututula tiya tua n'longo Mu tunga nsi ya ntoko vioka mu nsungi ya luta 𝄆 Muna ziunga kia nzadi ya nene 𝄇 Se bitatu mu tembua, i tu vutudi mu ngindu za biza Zi tu bundakese ye bankaka yo bana beto 𝄆 Luvuvamu, un'songi, ye salu. 𝄇 | Bǎna mbóka Zaïre na kímyá tozalí Na lisangá lya bǎna mbóka, tozali bǎna mbóka Zaïre Na libóso, lolέndɔ mpé totónda na limεmya Bingambé bato, bato ba nsɔ́mi ya libélá Mikóbo mísáto, pelisa bísó na mɔ̂tɔ mwa lotómo Mpɔ̂ totónga ekólo na bísó kitɔ́kɔ ntángo ínsɔ 𝄆 Na nzínganzínga ya ebalé monɛnɛ 𝄇 Mikóbo mísáto na mopɛpɛ, lamusa iye isengeli izala Iye isangisi bísó na bankɔ́kɔ mpé na bǎna ba bísó 𝄆 Bobóto, Bosémbo mpé Mosálá 𝄇 | Zairi, kaeni kwa amani, watu wa Unguja, sisi ni watu wa Zairi Kusonga mbele, wenye kiburi na wenye heshima. Wape watu, watu wa bure milele. Tepezwa bendera, weka taa ndani yetu takatifu, Ili kila wakati tuijenge nchi nzuri, Karibu na mto mkubwa ; Kuzunguka mto huo mkubwa. Aliyeyeshwa bendera kwenye upepo, ahuisha bora, Ambayo inatuunganisha kwa mababu zetu na watoto wetu, 𝄆 Amani, haki, na kazi. 𝄇 | Bantu ba mu Zaïre badi mu ditalala Bantu ba mu Zaïre badi mu buobumue Tuende kumpala ne lutambishi ne bunême Bantu banene, bantu badi ne budikadidi bua kashidi Mbande wa makole asatu, tujula munda muetu kapia ka tshijila, Bua kuibaka ditunga dimpe misangu yonso, 𝄆 Pa musulu wa dikema. 𝄇 Tshimfuanyi tshia mabala asatu mu lupepele, tshipetulula lungenyi luimpe Tshidi tshitutangila kudi bankambua betu, kudi bana betu 𝄆 Ditalala, buakane ne mudimu. 𝄇 |

## Modern usage

Zaire's national anthem has been used by the National Congress for the Defence of the People, a Congolese militia, and has been used during protests against Félix Tshisekedi in 2020, mostly by Mobutists.
The self-proclaimed, New Zaire Government in Exile, which tried to overthrow the Congolese government in May 2024, uses the national flag and anthem of Zaire.
The Republic of Molossia, a self-declared micronation in the United States of America, uses the melody of La Zaïroise in its own national anthem, Fair Molossia Is Our Home.