A Love Song

Malagasy Independance Day is coming up on the 26th of this month. I am sure there will be more on that later. But, for now, I wanted to share with you the love song to Madagascar that is the National Anthem. Many schools have the students sing the anthem regularly, so as a teacher I experience it often.

First, here is a link to the whole song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfcr5f6_Crw

Here are the lyrics in Malagasy. You can try to follow along as you listen above.

Ry Tanindraza nay malala ô
Ry Madagasikara soa.
Ny fitiavanay anaotsy miala,
Fa ho anao ho anao doria tokoa.

CHORUS:
Tahionao ry Zanahary
'Ty No sindrazanay ity
Hiadana sy ho finaritra
He sambatra tokoa izahay.

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô
Irinay mba hanompoan'anao
Ny tena sy fo fanahy anananay 'zay sarobidy
Sy mendrika tokoa.

Chorus

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô
Irinay mba hitahian' anao,
Ka Ilay Nahary 'zao ton tolo izao
no Fototra ijoroan, ny satanao.

Second, here are the lyrics in English.

Oh, Our beloved Fatherland
Oh good Madagascar.
Our love for you will not leave,
For you, for you for ever.

CHORUS:
Bless you, oh Creator
This island of our ancestors
To live in peace and joy
Hey! We are truly blessed.

Oh our beloved Fatherland
We wish to serve you with
The body and heart, spirit that is ours,
You are precious and truly deserving.

Chorus

Oh our beloved Fatherland
We wish that you will be blessed,
So that the Creator of this world
Will be the foundation of your laws.

Chorus

Third, here is a clip of the teachers at Semafi singing and singing the anthem.



My favorite part of the song is:

"Irinay mba hanompoan'anao,
Ny tena sy fo fanahy anananay 'zay sarobidy
Sy mendrika tokoa."

"We wish to serve you with
The body and heart, spirit that is ours,
You are precious and truly deserving."

I grow to love this country more and more everyday. I am grateful for an anthem that can even begin to sum that up.