Division once stood
to shatter thy native rest -
hear me, Rwanda!
Thou must now stand firm
at the heart of Africa -
one soul; one whole one!
Ne'er again
Ne'er again.
---<--@
Deny the spirit of War
a footing in thyself, O Beautiful Rwanda - forever!
Unity (the one peace that prospers).
Work (the labor of nations - building up the earth).
Patriotism (an indivisible love of Country).
All nations are endowed by God with just one heart -
one spirit to inspire her peoples, embracing their souls,
calling their generations forth from timelessness into time,
establishing upon their midst one rule, one abiding will of peace -
one undertaking of Country, one ascent, one lineage of victory;
one unity that shelters against the darkness and against War
binding all her sons and daughters together unto one soul,
from generation to generation to the last of her generations
so that they belong together: one love, one labor, one destiny.
Stand for thy own native peace;
serve and prosper thy peoples;
defend the life of thy one nation -
steadfastly, always, and with virtue.
Mabuhay, Rwanda!
