God Bless Fiji

Meda Dau Doka
English: God Bless Fiji
National anthem of	Fiji
Lyrics	Michael Francis Alexander Prescott
Music	Charles Austin Miles
Adopted	1970

"Meda Dau Doka" (Fijian pronunciation: [meⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdoka]), also known as "God Bless Fiji" in English, is the national anthem of Fiji. It was adopted in 1970 when the country got its independence from the United Kingdom.

Earlier, in 1911, American gospel writer Charles Austin Miles composed the music for the Christian hymn Dwelling in Beulah Land – the same melody that is being used for this song today.

The lyrics (words) were written by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott.^[1] The Fijian version and the English version are not translations of each other, and the English version is used much more commonly.^[2]

In 2008, it was suggested that this anthem should be sung in Fijian, English and Fiji Hindi – the country's official languages – all in one piece.^[3]^[2]

Lyrics

Fijian version

Fijian lyrics (official)	IPA transcription	Fijian to English translation
Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani Me sa Biu na i tovo tawa yaga Me bula ga ko Viti Ka me toro ga ki liu Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu Me ra liutaki na tamata E na veika vinaka Me oti kina na i tovo ca Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti Ni yavala me savasava na vanua Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua^[2]^[4]	[meⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdoka ka βinakata na βanua] [e ra sa ⁿdɔu̯ tʃiko kina na saβasaβa] [raɰa tu na ŋɔu̯na ni sɔu̯tu na βei̯lomani] [me sa ᵐbi̯u na i toβo taɰa jaŋa] [me ᵐbula ŋa ko βitʃi] [ka me toro ŋa ki li̯u] [me ra turaŋa βinaka ko ira na i li̯uli̯u] [me ra li̯utaki na tamata] [e na βei̯ka βinaka] [me otʃi kina na i toβo ða] [me ⁿda ⁿdɔu̯ ⁿdoka ka βinakata na βanua] [e ra sa ⁿdɔu̯ tʃiko kina na saβasaβa] [rawa tu na ŋɔu̯na ni sɔu̯tu na βei̯lomani] [me sa ᵐbi̯u na i toβo taɰa jaŋa] [ᵐbale ŋa βei̯ kemuni na ðɔu̯raβou̯ e βitʃi] [ni jaβala me saβasaβa na βanua] [ni kakua ni βosota na ⁿdukaⁿdukali] [ka me da sa ᵑɡɛi̯ ᵐbi̯uta βakaⁿdua]	Let us show our pride and honour our nation Where righteous people reside Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere Abandon deeds that are immoral Let Fiji live on And progress onwards May our leaders be honourable men Let them lead our people To great things And bring an end to all things immoral Let us show pride and honour our nation Where righteous people reside Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere Abandon deeds that are immoral The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji Be the strength to cleanse our nation Be wary and not harbour malice For we must abandon such sentiments forever^[2]

English version

This version is much more popular.^[2]

Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji

As we stand united under noble banner blue

And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever

Onward march together

God bless Fiji

Chorus:

For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride

For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hails far and wide,

A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befalls

May God bless Fiji

Forever more!

Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji

Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song

Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever

Onward march together

God bless Fiji.^[2]^[4]

Fiji Hindi version

He jagdishwar, kripa karo tum Fiji desh pe apne

Ahle watan hum teri sharan mein, teri dhwaja ke neehe

Ajaadi ki raksha aur samman sada hum karege

Sab milke badhte rahege

Sarwamangal Fiji

Yeh Fiji, hamara Fiji

Hum sab mil gaate rahe

Yeh Fiji Hamara Fiji

Yeh naara lagate rahe

Dharti hai apni, azaadi, asha aur garva ki

Kripa rahe prabhu ki, Fiji par sarwada^[4]

References

↑ http://www.national-anthems.org/anthems/country/FIJI Archived 2018-12-14 at the Wayback Machine FIJI. National-anthems.org
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 http://www.nationalanthems.info/fj.htm Fiji. NationalAnthems.info.
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120322005020/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=97186 Charter proposes common name. Fiji Times. 7 August 2008. Archived 22 March 2012.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 http://www.20ccem.gov.fj/index.php/national-anthem National Anthem. 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, 20ccem.gov.fj. Retrieved 24 May 2020.

[1] ttp://www.national-anthems.org/anthems/country/FIJI Archived 2018-12-14 at the Wayback Machine FIJI. National-anthems.org

[info-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 http://www.nationalanthems.info/fj.htm Fiji. NationalAnthems.info.

[3] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20120322005020/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=97186 Charter proposes common name. Fiji Times. 7 August 2008. Archived 22 March 2012.

[20ccem-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 http://www.20ccem.gov.fj/index.php/national-anthem National Anthem. 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, 20ccem.gov.fj. Retrieved 24 May 2020.

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