A national anthem is a symbol of a country's national identity and heritage. It also reflects the country's history, culture, and values on the global stage. However, at various times, different countries have made changes to their national anthems due to political, social, and cultural contexts. These changes are usually made to reflect national progress, gender equality, or new political realities. Let’s take a look at some countries around the world that have made changes to their national anthems for various reasons:
Australia:
On January 1, 2021, Australia’s national anthem was changed following a declaration by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The new anthem no longer refers to Australia as "young and free." This change is part of reflecting the long history and heritage of Indigenous Australians.
Germany:
Germany’s Commissioner for Equality, Kristine Rose-Möhring, has proposed increasing gender equality in the national anthem. She suggested replacing "Vaterland" (fatherland) with "Heimat" (homeland) in the anthem. However, Chancellor Angela Merkel and others believe that there is no need to change the national anthem.
Austria:
In 2012, Austria’s national anthem was modified to include "girls and boys" instead of just "boys" in the interest of gender equality.
Canada:
Recently, Canada also made its national anthem more gender-neutral. The second line of the anthem was changed from "thy sons" to "all of us."
Nepal:
In 2008, Nepal officially abolished its monarchy. The previous year, a new song was recognized as the national anthem. The earlier anthem, adopted in 1962, praised the monarchy, so it was replaced.
Afghanistan:
Afghanistan has changed its national anthem several times. During the Taliban regime, the country had no national anthem. In 2002, the old anthem was reinstated. Later, in 2006, the then Karzai government changed the anthem as part of a broader initiative to start anew.
Rwanda:
When one thinks of Rwanda, the genocide of 1994 comes to mind. In just 100 days, between 500,000 and 1 million people were killed. To rebuild its image post-genocide, Rwanda adopted a new national anthem in 2001.
South Africa:
In 1997, South Africa created a new national anthem by combining parts of the previous two anthems. The anthem is written in both African languages and English. However, the African language portion is criticized because it included elements of the anthem used during the apartheid era. Nelson Mandela included it as part of a reconciliatory process in post-apartheid South Africa.
Russia:
After Vladimir Putin took office as the Russian President in 2000, he reinstated the national anthem used before 1990. However, some changes were made to the lyrics. The anthem adopted in 1990 had no words, and athletes participating in international competitions criticized it, stating that the instrumental version did not inspire them.
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