Beautiful Africa [English translation]

The troubles in Ivory Coast gave birth to a profound chaos,

The result was desolation and regret,

Regret was all the violence of my brothers in Guinea made me feel,

The troubles in the Congo are heading for misfortune,

Conflict is no solution, pride is hardly virtuous

Lord, give us wisdom, give us foresight.

Malians, let’s conquer the pride that’s rife within us,

It only leads to pain.

Disrespecting our fellow being only leads to disharmony

These battles in which everyone thinks only of themselves

Bring nothing but destruction

Conflict is no solution,

pride is hardly virtuous

Lord,

give us wisdom, give us foresight.

The misunderstanding between political leaders is baffling.

Can guilt be the cause of these destructive quarrels?

Or is it the thirst for power?

Conflict is no solution, pride is barely virtuous

Lord, give us wisdom, give us foresight.

Fratricidal schemes,

Destructive good intentions

Greater Mali capsizes, overwhelmed

Twisted foundations, broken moorings

The flood of my tears is in full spate

Ardent is my pain.

In my Afro-progressive veins

Burns Bambara blood infused with hope

Cut out against the light my boldness persists

Against the current my convictions resist

I believe in wisdom and integrity

Trust, dignity and humility

Growing in the hearts of your children

By the rightness of their acts

By their union and their steadfastness

Complicity and mutual respect

They’ll assuage the hurt that gnaws you

Africa, I love you

Afrique je t’aime

Conflict is no solution,

pride is hardly virtuous

Lord,

give us wisdom, give us foresight.

Battered, wounded Africa,

Why do you keep the role of the beautiful naive deceived

Yet, my faith does not know failure

More intense than ever,

My faith does not know failure

I love you beautiful Africa

Afrique je t’aime

I love you beautiful Africa

You are beautiful Africa

Hei hei héhé hei hé

Conflict is no solution,

pride is hardly virtuous