The Dawn of A New Cameroon! O people blest, [Cameroon] whose sons in youth, In sturdy strength and noble truth, Like plants in vigor spring; Whose daughters fair, a queenly race, Are like the cornerstones that grace The palace of a king, The palace of a king. O people blest, when flock and field Their rich, abundant increase yield, And blessings multiply; When plenty all thy children share, And no invading foe is there, And no distressful cry, And no distressful cry. O happy people, favored land, To whom the Lord with liberal hand Has thus His goodness shown; Yea, surely is that people blest By whom Jehovah is confessed To be their God alone, To be their God alone. (The Psalter, 1912) Oh unfading glory! Oh immortal joy! In furrows of pain, Good is already germinating. A homeland that extends its wings over the horizon, And wears the glory of civilization as a garment - Blessed be the land of the Sananga, Wouri and Mungo, A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance. This homeland is made of flame and splendour And pride unequalled by the high heavens. It is a mountain that rises above the tops of the world And a plain that embodies our pride. Oh unfading glory! Oh immortal joy! In furrows of pain, Good is already germinating. Oh company of native Sons and daughters, filled with pride of lions, Oh pinnacle of pride and of inherited glory, Advance, bringing terror, to a certain victory We are a generation who give all and toil to the utmost. Oh expanse of glory, we have returned anew To a nation that we build with unyielding determination. And each martyr follows in the footsteps of a former martyr. Our mighty nation is filled with pride and vigour And the comrades build the fortresses of glory. Oh Cameroon, may you remain forever a refuge for all Africans And be as sun that turns night into day! [Composed by E.L. Molua, 2003] O Cameroon, all you native sons and daughters, Proudly rally to defend your liberty. And like the sun, your flag will be resplendent, As a symbol of your faith and unity. May all your children follow the command, From East and West to give their heart, Their only wish to serve their land And with constancy play their part. CHORUS: This our land that we all love so, On you our whole happiness is stayed. You're our joy and you're our life too; To you be honour and love displayed. You are the tomb where our fathers are resting, You're the garden they prepared and they conceived, We work that you may become fair and prosp'rous, And one day at last we'll see all achieved. May you be a faithful child of Africa, Advancing steadily in peace, In hope that ev'ry young child of yours Will love you until time shall cease. CHORUS: This our land that we all love so, On you our whole happiness is stayed. You're our joy and you're our life too; To you be honour and love displayed. THE CAMEROON PLEDGE OF LOYALTY I pledge to thee O' Native Land, My love and my loyalty, To upholding thy unity, And thy welfare. One People, One Nation, Indivisible Cameroon, My Beloved Fatherland! [By E. Konde, 2002] Note: These hymns and pledge are simple and short. They can and should be recited every morning by children in Cameroon schools, on special national occasions, and by Parliamentarians before commencing deliberations in the National Assembly. They can also be recited by both state and private-sector employees before the commencement of the working day. This constitutes an initial thrust toward forging a sense of national consciousness.