National Anthem of Rhodesia: Rise O Voices of Rhodesia

"Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" (or "Voices of Rhodesia") was the national anthem of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe Rhodesia between 1974 and 1979. The tune was that of "Ode to Joy", the Fourth Movement from Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which had been adopted as the official European continental anthem by the Council of Europe in 1972 (it remains the European Union's anthem today). The music used in Rhodesia was an original sixteen-bar arrangement by Captain Ken MacDonald, the bandmaster of the Rhodesian African Rifles. A national competition was organized by the government to find an appropriate set of lyrics to match the chosen tune, and won by Mary Bloom of Gwelo.

In the fallout from Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965, the country still claimed loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II as its professed head of state, and so retained "God Save the Queen" as its national anthem. With Rhodesia's reconstitution in 1970 as a republic, however, the royal anthem was dropped along with many other references to the monarchy, leaving it without a national anthem until it adopted "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" in 1974. The national anthem lost its legal status in December 1979, when the United Kingdom retook interim control of the country pending its internationally recognised independence as Zimbabwe five months later. Rhodesia's use of the well-known Beethoven tune has since caused the playing of "Ode to Joy" to be controversial in modern-day Zimbabwe.

FRANÇAIS : Rise O Voices of Rhodesia était l'hymne national de la République de Rhodésie de 1974 jusqu'à la dissolution de cet État, en 1979.

Officialisé le 26 août 1974, la mélodie reprenait « l'Ode à la joie » de Beethoven. Les paroles avaient été écrites par Mme Mary Bloom, native d'Afrique du Sud et résidente de Gwelo.

[clnClns]

Ah, the times when taking a piece of bread didn't cost the savings of generations ...

[thelastoferrathen]

This is the most *based* music channel ever, I love it.

[MonarchistMusic]

Rhodesia definitely had its problems, and the internal settlement of 1979 should have been negotiated far before, but goodness it was better than the current sorry state of Zimbabwe

An interesting piece of history, is that the Albanian Royal Family, who were living in exile following their ousting from Albania by Mussolini’s Italy in 1939, lived in Rhodesia during the 1960s and 70s, and in fact maintained a significant armed Royal Guard unit consisting of exiled Albanian royalists. The Royal Guard, under the command of King Leka I, cooperated with the Rhodesian armed forces in fighting against the ZANU-PF during the Bush war.

[gaggymott]

I was student to a Pharmacist called Muriel Robinson. She left Northern Ireland for Rhodesia in the 50s. The stories of her life there held me spell-bound for ages...When I should have been working and learning!! ❤

[alecgurney]

The story of rhodesia to zimbabwe should be a lesson and warning to all western and eastern nations

[meholy]

Pure beauty, thank you for uploading it in these trying times. Rhodesians never die!

[Akcija]

I just can't believe you uploaded this at the same day I listened Rhodesian's great songs after a while! It fit so nicely for me. Rhodesians Never Die!

[simonsimons]

So long as their memory remains, Rhodesia and her heroes will never die.

[error_]

RIP Ian Smith. 14 years ago today he died

[OldMate]

Ian Smith in heaven be like
"Are you sure mugabe is dead? I don't see him here"

[MarshallRedmon]

I don't know a whole lot about Rhodesia but it has one of the most beautiful anthems I've ever heard

[darwinisticanarchist]

Love to Rhodesia from Bangladesh
May The country once again saw law and stability

[mr.drake]

Some interesting facts about Brazil and Rhodesia:

1- In 1961, President Jânio Quadros created a career consulate in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. Through a brazilian federal law, citizens could issue documents and passports between the two countries.

2- In Brazil, we have streets named after Rhodesia. In the state of São Paulo, we have around 2 streets named Rhodesia, one in the capital and the other in the interior. One of them even had the Rhodesian coat of arms on the sign. (pt-br Rua Rodésia / english Rhodesia Street)

3- During the Rhodesian civil war (Bush War), the country purchased several vehicles from Volkswagen Brazil, among them were the Kombi Mk2. Kombi engines were fitted to Pookies, landmine detection vehicles.

4- Some trees planted in Salisbury (now Harare) are Jacarandas, trees that are very abundant in Brazil.

5- During the 50s and 60s, Brazil, through an agreement, established a Consulate to work in both countries, but an embassy was never confirmed. It was only created during the second date of Independence of Zimbabwe, where it was actually made between the Capital Brasilia and Harare. (Year the embassy opened in 1980).

6- The flags of Brazil and Rhodesia have a predominance of green, yellow and white (exceptions such as blue in the Brazilian flag and red and purple in the Rhodesian flag).

7- in comparison, the current Brazilian army uses FAL models to train and use in (real) combat, including some tactics here that are very similar to the old Rhodesian army.

8- extra curiosity: in old school books in Brazil, there was a section in the text about the relationship between Brazil and Africa, there was a passage where a Brazilian delegation went to Southern Rhodesia, a year before 1965, which said: "Here (Salisbury) is so beautiful and lovely, that it doesn't even seem like we're on the continent, but rather in another world."

• Sorry for my english, I am a Brazilian passionate about history and curiosity, I wish a big hug to everyone who read it and see you later!!

[jamesonooijinyuan]

Why does Rhodesia looks so much better than nowaday Zimbabwe

[Komet_uwu]

The capital city of Rhodesia. Used to be clean, better road, working traffic lights and rich. Nowadays everything is ruined.

[mildlydispleased]

Apparently because the EU uses Ode to Joy as their anthem this has affected EU - Zimbabwe relations negatively.

[Lion_Heart_Zimbabwe]

Speaking as a Zimbabwean/Rhodesian of noble British stock, I am proud of my country and countrymen. Born in the country I love. Raised on good British Morals, Virtues, Charity, Generosity, Kindness and Chivalry. Born to help the animals and wildlife of my treasured country of Zimbabwe. 💚💛🙏🏻🕊🐾🇿🇼🇿🇼🇬🇧

[Blitzkrieg_Wolf]

A Rhodesian joke is told something along the lines of "What did people use for light before Zimbabwe took rule over Rhodesia..."



"Electricity"

[FreedomLovingLoyalist]

Long Live the forgotten Rhodesia! Shame on those who betrayed Mr. Smith.

[kevanhubbard]

I passed through there as a young kid in 1973 enroute London to Johannesburg and our plane landed in Salisbury as was and we got out, presumably the plane was refueled, and back on and onwards south.