A popular symbol of our nation, the words to Liberia’s national anthem were composed by Daniel B. Warner, who would eventually become Liberia’s third president, according to the Historical Dictionary of Liberia.

The music, however, was supplied by an African American pianist known as Cleveland Olmsted Lucas, when he was in Liberia between 1861 and 1864.

The anthem has been the same ever since, although, in 1974, the legislature authorized the president to constitute a Commission on National Unity, which would examine all national symbols including the national motto, seal, flag, constitution, and the national anthem.

The Deshield Commission, as it was known, because its chairman was McKinley A. Deshield, Sr., aimed at “stamping out every and any idea that may suggest class distinction, separateness, or sectionalism among the people of Liberia.”

The commission’s report recommended changing only one word in the anthem removing the word “benighted” and replacing it with “undaunted.”

Eventually, none of the changes recommended by the Deshield Commission Report were ever implemented.

Besides the national anthem, Liberians may also be familiar with another popular song, “the Lone Star Forever,” which was written by Edwin James Barclay, who would become Liberia’s 18^th president.

Now that you know about the origin of the national anthem, you can enjoy this video compilation of Liberians singing our beloved tune.