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Ala Khallidi is the former national anthem of Tunisia. It was sung during the Presidency of Habib Bourguiba until his downfall during 1987. In 1958, the ministry of education organized a competition, in which 53 poets and 23 musicians took part. The results were examined first by a commission of the Board of Education, which selected the works of the hymn poet Jalaeddine Naccache and the composer Salah El-Mehdi (director of the conservatoire of Tunis). Whereupon one submitted the works without publication of the selection already met to the president. He selected the same as the commission. In order to go completely surely, one held however still another larger popular assembly in Monastir, the birth city of the president, and let all 23 melodies play. But then, the song from Naccache and El-Mehdi was won and Adopted during the Independence Day at that same year.

This is a transliteration of the Arabic version:

Chorus

'Ala khallidi ya dimana-l-ghawali jihad al-watan

Litahriri khadhra'ina la nubali bi'aqsa-l-mihan

Jihadun tahalla binasrin mubin `ala-l-ghasibin `ala-dh-dhalimin

Tughat-iz-zaman

Nakhudh-ul-lahib biruh-il-Habib*

Zai`im-il-watan

1

'Ara-l-hukma li-sh-sha`bi f-abnu lana

Min al-majdi a`la suruhin tushad

'Ajibu 'ajibu li'awtanina

Nida' al-ukhuwwati wa-l-ittihad

Wa dhudu-l-`ida `an hima ardhina

Wa kunu 'usudan liyawm-il-jilad

Chorus

2

Warithna-l-jilada wa majd an-nidhal

Wa fi 'ardhina masra`-ul-ghasibin

Wa salat asatiluna fi-n-nizal

Tamuju bi'abtalina-l-fatihin

Liwa'-ul-kifahi bihadha-sh-shamal

Rafa`nahu yawma-l-fida bi-l-yamin

Chorus

3

Shabab-ul-`ula `izzuna bi-l-hima

Wa `izzu-l-hima bi-sh-shabab-il-`atid

Lana himmatun talat-il-'anjuma

Tu`id-ul-ma`ali wa tabni-l-jadid

Fahayyu-l-liwa khafiqan fi-s-sama

Bi`izzin wa fakhrin wa nasrin majid

Chorus

• Habib- refers to Habib Bourguiba

Chorus

Immortal and precious the blood we have shed for our dear fatherland.

In order to free our green land any hardship we gladly will stand.

The fight is made sweet by a victory sure,

Removing the yoke we've had to endure.

The fire we confront as faithful we keep

The spirit of our great leader Habib.

1

The people are sov'reign and so let us raise

Of glory a citadel for all to see.

O answer, O answer our fatherland's call

To true brotherhood and to true unity.

Be ready, like lions prepared for the fight,

Defending our country from each enemy.

Chorus

2

The glory and fight we inherit today.

Oppressors were fought here on this battleground.

Our legions in fury attacked in the field,

As heroes in waves let their war-cries resound.

The banner of war in the North we have raised,

By oath we to ransom our land all are bound.

Chorus

3

O noble the youth, our defence you assure,

Defending our honour, as ready you be.

Our strong aspirations reach up to the sky

That greatness return and a new day we see.

The flag, as it waves in the sky, now salute

With honour and glory and great victory.

Chorus

The sheet music is available from M. J. Bristow: http://www.national-anthems.org/download.htm#for Lyrics: Jalaleddine Naccache (1910-1989) Music: Salah Mehdi (1925)

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