EDITORIAL: Who fathered our anthem?
The National Symbols of the Republic of Namibia Act credits legendary Axali Doëseb with creating the melody, music and lyrics of our national anthem.
The presidency too credits Doëseb, who sadly died recently, as ‘the writer and composer of the national anthem’.
However, minister in the same presidency, Christine //Hoebes, says Doëseb was only responsible for the melody. The family of the late Hidipo Hamutenya says he was the man behind the words – written while "on the plane to Cuba". As a nation, right now, we’re like a bunch of drunk guys debating Eeshoke Chula Chula results at a pub on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
But this is not pub talk. How can a country not ‘really’ know who composed the most important song ever sung within its borders? The debate itself is not silly, as some have suggested. If anything, the debate is very necessary and inevitable when this gaping vacuum of truth exists.
What is silly is how our records don’t seem watertight enough to avoid speculation and emotive debate in a period of mourning. How could a nation not know who birthed its anthem? This throws so many things into disarray, including the National Symbols Act itself, which contradicts what a national minister says on the origins of the song. The real truth, whatever it is, is gone with Hamutenya and Doëseb into eternity. What remains is speculation, sorrow and despair.
The presidency too credits Doëseb, who sadly died recently, as ‘the writer and composer of the national anthem’.
However, minister in the same presidency, Christine //Hoebes, says Doëseb was only responsible for the melody. The family of the late Hidipo Hamutenya says he was the man behind the words – written while "on the plane to Cuba". As a nation, right now, we’re like a bunch of drunk guys debating Eeshoke Chula Chula results at a pub on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
But this is not pub talk. How can a country not ‘really’ know who composed the most important song ever sung within its borders? The debate itself is not silly, as some have suggested. If anything, the debate is very necessary and inevitable when this gaping vacuum of truth exists.
What is silly is how our records don’t seem watertight enough to avoid speculation and emotive debate in a period of mourning. How could a nation not know who birthed its anthem? This throws so many things into disarray, including the National Symbols Act itself, which contradicts what a national minister says on the origins of the song. The real truth, whatever it is, is gone with Hamutenya and Doëseb into eternity. What remains is speculation, sorrow and despair.
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Namibian Sun
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