Yεn Ara Asase Ni (De facto National Anthem of Ghana)

[Ɔkyeame Kwame]

Yεn Ara Asase Ni (De facto National Anthem of Ghana)

YouTube - The Ghanaian National Anthem

Yεn ara asase ni,

Ɛyε aboɔden de ma yεn.

Mogya na nananom hwie gui,

Nya de too hɔ ma yεn.

Adu me ne wo nso so,

Sε yεbεyε bi atoa so.

Nimdeε ntraso, Nkoto-kranne

Ne apε-sε-me-nko-minya

Adi yεn bra mu dεm,

Ma yεn asase ho dɔ atom’ sεε.

Ɔman no, sε εbεyε yie o,

Ɔman no, sε εrenyε yie o,

Ɛyε nsεnnahɔ sε, Ɔmanfo bra na εkyerε.



Nhoma nimdeε huhugyan,

Anaa adenya ara kwa

Ne ɔbrakyew de εsεe ɔman,

Na εbɔ no ahohora

Asoɔmmerε ne obu pa,

Yɔnko yiyedi pε daa

Ahofama ntetekwaam’

Ma onipa biara yiyedi.

Ɛnonom na εde asomdwee ne nkɔso pa brε ɔman.

Ɔman no sε εbεyε yie o! Ɔman no sε εrenyε yie o!

Ɛyε nsεnnahɔ sε, Ɔmanfo bra na εkyerε.





Translation


This is our own land,

That is a valuable thing to us,

Acquired through the blood our ancestors shed

For us.
It is now our turn

To continue what our ancestors started.
Know-it-all behavior, cheating,

And selfishness

Has scarred our character,
And diminished our affection for our land.

Whether or not this nation prospers,

Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.

Bragging of educational achievements,

Or useless greed for material things,

And bad lifestyles are destroying our nation,

And disgracing it.

Obedience and respect,

Caring for the welfare of one another everyday

Selflessness in the traditional way,

Ensures each person’s welfare,

That is what will bring peace and prosperity to our nation.

Whether or not this nation prospers,

Clearly depends on the character of the citizens of the nation.



(Composer: The late Dr. Ephraim Amu, a former Achimota School

Music teacher and an eminent scholar and musician.)



Transcribed and translated by Obadele Kwame Kambon