Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit
Encyclopedia
"Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (You Our Ancient Land; ) is the national anthem
of Greenland
, an autonomous province of Denmark
. With lyrics by Henrik Lund
and music composed by Jonathan Petersen
, the anthem was officially adopted in 1916. Since 1979, "Nuna asiilasooq
" (The Land of Great Length), an anthem used by the self-governing Kalaallit
people, has also been officially recognised by the government.
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, an autonomous province of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. With lyrics by Henrik Lund
Henrik Lund
Henning Jakob Henrik Lund or Intel'eraq was a Greenlandic lyricist, painter and priest. He wrote the lyrics to "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit,"in the indigenous Greenlandic language, an Eskimo–Aleut language...
and music composed by Jonathan Petersen
Jonathan Petersen
Jonathan Petersen was a Greenlandic songwriter. He composed the music to the national anthem of Greenland, Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit . The lyrics were written by the Greenlandic pastor Henrik Lund, and the song was adopted as the national anthem in 1916.-References:...
, the anthem was officially adopted in 1916. Since 1979, "Nuna asiilasooq
Nuna asiilasooq
"Nuna asiilasooq" is a national anthem of Greenland used by the self-governing Kalaallit Inuit people of Greenland."Nuna asiilasooq" was officially recognised by the government in 1979...
" (The Land of Great Length), an anthem used by the self-governing Kalaallit
Kalaallit
Kalaallit is the contemporary term in the Kalaallisut language for the indigenous people living in Greenland, also called the Kalaallit Nunaat. The singular term is kalaaleq. The Kalaallit are a part of the Arctic Inuit people. The language spoken by Inuit in Greenland is Kalaallisut.Historically,...
people, has also been officially recognised by the government.
Greenlandic/Kalaallisut lyrics
- Nunarput, utoqqarsuanngoravit niaqqut ulissimavoq qiinik.
- Qitornatit kissumiaannarpatit tunillugit sineriavit piinik.
- Akullequtaasut merlertutut ilinni perortugut tamaani
- kalaallinik imminik taajumavugut niaqquit ataqqinartup saani.
- Atortillugillu tamaasa pisit ingerlaniarusuleqaagut
- nutarterlugillu noqitsigisatit siumut, siumut piumaqaagut.
- Inersimalersut ingerlanerat tungaalitsiterusuleqaarput,
- oqaatsit "aviisit" qanoq kingunerat atussasoq erinigileqaarput.
- Taqilluni naami atunngiveqaaq, kalaallit siumut makigitsi.
- Inuttut inuuneq pigiuminaqaaq, saperasi isumaqaleritsi.
Danish translation
- Vort ældgamle land under isblinkens bavn
- med lysende snehår om dit hoved!
- Du trofaste moder, som bar os i din favn,
- mens dine kysters rigdom du os loved.
- Som halvvoksne børn er vi groet af din jord
- og trygt vokset op blandt dine fjelde,
- vi kalder os kalaallit i landet, hvor vi bor
- ærbødigt for dit hvide åsyns ælde.
- Og alt mens vi bruger dit bugnende flor,
- vi længes mod verdens nye former,
- vi fjerner hver hindring, som hæmmer dig, vor mor,
- og frejdigt frem mod fjerne mål vi stormer.
- De fremskredne folk et eksempel os gav,
- og det vil vi også stræbe efter,
- mens bølgernes verden er vores vandringsstav,
- som bær os frem og giver nye kræfter.
- Umuligt nu længer at blive i ro,
- kalaallit, mod større mål vi stævner.
- Som fribårne folk vi i landet vil bo;
- begynd at tro på jeres egne evner.
English translation
- Our country, which has become so old your head is all covered with white hair.
- Always held us, your children, in your bosom and gave us the riches of your coasts.
- As middle children in the family we blossomed here Kalaallit,
- we want to call ourselves before your proud and honourable head.
- With a burning desire to develop what you have to give, renewing,
- removing your obstacles of our desire to move forward, forward.
- The way of matured societies is our zealous goal to attain;
- the effect of speech and letters we long to behold.
- Humbleness is not the course, Kalaallit wake up and be proud!
- A dignified life is our goal; courageously take a stand.