Fatshe leno la rona

Fatshe leno la rona
English: Blessed Be This Noble Land
National anthem of Botswana
LyricsKgalemang Tumediso Motsete, 1962
MusicKgalemang Tumediso Motsete, 1962
Adopted1966
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse and chorus)

"Fatshe leno la rona" (pronounced [ˈfat͡sʰɪ ˈlɛnʊ la ˈrʊna]; "Blessed Be This Noble Land"[1][2]) is the national anthem of Botswana. The music was composed by Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete, who also authored the song's Setswana lyrics.[3] It was adopted when the country became independent in 1966. Since independence, the song is sung occasionally during the country's important events such as Kgotla meetings, independence celebrations and other national events. The national anthem is highly respected to an extent that when it is sung movements are not allowed, people stand at attention, and security officers, like the police and soldiers, salute as a show of respect.

  1. ^ Williams 2007, p. 87.
  2. ^ Behnke 2009, p. 69.
  3. ^ Makgala, Christian John (7 October 2014). "Neil Parsons, National Coat of Arms, and Introduction of the Pula Currency in Botswana, 1975–1976". South African Historical Journal. 66 (3): 504–520. doi:10.1080/02582473.2014.898081. S2CID 159475736.