Skip to content

Calitown

News, Here, Everytime!

  • Home
  • News
    • Cross River News
  • Features
  • Community
  • Inspirational
  • Toggle search form
  • C’River Women Threaten To Go Naked Over Cocoa Estate Privatisation Cross River News
  • Gov Otu Lauds South South Transformation Drive, Declares Region’s Support For Tinubu’s Continuity  Cross River News
  • CR Senator Deeply Saddened By Calabar/Itu Road Mishap Cross River News
  • Wife, Mother-in-law, Sister-in-law, Doctor & Catholic Priest Bag Jail Terms Over Lawyer’s Murder In Akwa Ibom News
  • FG Endorses Leboku In Abuja 2025! Cross River News
  • The Case For Continuity: A Scholarly Defence Of Hierarchy & The Re-Election Of Serving Senators In Nigeria’s National Assembly  Features
  • CRSG Pays Tribute, Holds Farewell Parade For Late Carnival Band Leaders  Cross River News
  • Support Group Honours Chief Of Staff To CRS Governor, Emmanuel Ironbar, As Grand Patron Cross River News

Our ‘New’ National Anthem Is Profoundly Misguided

Posted on June 9, 2024 By Admin No Comments on Our ‘New’ National Anthem Is Profoundly Misguided
By Sam Eno

The recent legislative decision to resurrect the archaic anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” with the subsequent presidential assent, represents a profoundly misguided and retrogressive move. This decision, cloaked in a veneer of nostalgia, fails to appreciate the nuanced and complex identity of contemporary Nigeria. The anthem’s lyrics, replete with archaic terminology such as “tribe” and “native,” only serve to reinforce antiquated and divisive conceptions of our national identity, potentially exacerbating socio-cultural tensions rather than fostering unity.

The term “tribe” is particularly problematic, as it carries with it colonial-era connotations of primitiveness and savagery. In modern sociopolitical discourse, “tribe” has largely been supplanted by “ethnic group,” a term that recognizes the sophisticated social structures, rich cultures, and historical depth of Nigeria’s diverse peoples. The persistence of “tribe” in the anthem is not merely a matter of semantics; it is a vestige of colonial subjugation that undermines the dignity and humanity of millions of Nigerians.

Moreover, the word “native” is similarly fraught with derogatory implications, evoking images of subordination and backwardness. To describe the indigenous peoples of Nigeria as “natives” is to perpetuate a narrative of inferiority and subservience, a narrative that should have been discarded along with the colonial chains that bound us. In an era where national identity should be built upon mutual respect and recognition of our shared heritage, such regressive terminology is wholly unacceptable.

It is perplexing and disheartening that our legislators and president would endorse a measure that so clearly disregards the progressive strides Nigeria has made since its independence. This decision is an affront to the values of inclusivity and equality that underpin our democracy. It appears to be an attempt to romanticize a past that was marred by oppression and division, rather than celebrating the vibrant and dynamic nation Nigeria has become.

Our national anthem should be a reflection of our collective aspirations and the progressive values we hold dear. It should inspire pride, unity, and a sense of common purpose. By reinstating an anthem that fails to resonate with contemporary sensibilities and perpetuates outdated stereotypes, our leaders have done a disservice to the Nigerian people. It is a step backwards, not towards the future we strive to build—a future characterized by mutual respect, unity in diversity, and a rejection of all forms of discrimination.

In conclusion, the reinstatement of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem is a deeply regrettable decision. It underscores a lack of sensitivity to the evolving dynamics of Nigerian identity and a disregard for the importance of language in shaping our national consciousness. It is imperative that this decision be reconsidered, and that a more inclusive, forward-looking anthem be adopted—one that truly reflects the richness and diversity of Nigeria and fosters a sense of unity and pride among all its citizens.

Sam Eno, PhD, wrote in from Abuja

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram
Cross River News, Features, News Tags:National anthem, Sam Eno

Post navigation

Previous Post: Police To Raid Drinking Joints Without Liquor License In Cross River State
Next Post: CRS: Prospective NYSC Members Stranded As Registration Portal Crashes

Related Posts

  • AMCON Is Mischievous; The Plot Was To Rubbish Me – Donald Duke Cross River News
  • “I Did Not Give John Gaul Money” – Alex Egbona Cross River News
  • Surveyors Want CRSG To Update Survey Services Cross River News
  • Speaker CRSHA Pens Dirge To Late Colleague Cross River News
  • Gov. Benedict Ayade And His Mysterious Budget Template Features
  • Rejoinder: Imoke And Duke Should Sheet Their Swords Features

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Comments

  • Prevailing Truth on Still On The Matter Of Zoning The Position Of Vice Chancellor Of The University Of Calabar
  • Michael Eyong on The Appointment Of A VC For Unical Should Be Based On Merit, Not Ethnicity & Zoning
  • Samuel on The Appointment Of A VC For Unical Should Be Based On Merit, Not Ethnicity & Zoning
  • #Dr EWORO EMENG on “The People In Govt, Cannot Even Get The Taps To Run In Cross River After Two Years” – CR PDP Chieftain!

ADVERT: Click to Watch!

https://calitown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/VID-20170928-WA0003.mp4
  • “I Will Run A Numbers Driven Admin In CRS” – John Upan Odey Cross River News
  • The Cross River State Conundrum: Passing On A Stained Banner? Cross River News
  • Those Who Want Gov. Ayade Removed Are “Jokers And Jesters” – Ayade’s Aide Cross River News
  • “Imoke Is Giving Us Headache”… Bassey Ekpo Bassey Jnr Cross River News
  • Rejoinder: Imoke And Duke Should Sheet Their Swords Features
  • ITM Ugep To Close Admissions November 30, 2017 Cross River News
  • CR Commissioner Disrupts Mobile Court, Orders Attack Of Road Safety Officials Cross River News
  • Chief Of Naval Staff Visits Burnt Akim Police Station Cross River News

CALITOWN
...News, Here, Everytime

Quick Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Cross River News
  • Features
  • Community
  • Inspirational

Copyright © 2021 calitown
172 Greenwood Avenue , Hull. East Yorkshire. HU6 9NY

Powered by PressBook News WordPress theme