Aiaaira

Аиааира

English: Victory
Aiaaira
National anthem of Abkhazia
Lyrics	Gennady Alamia
Music	Valery Chkadua
Adopted	24 October 2007

Aiaaira (Abkhaz: «Аиааира», "Victory") is the national anthem of Abkhazia.^{[note 1]} It was adopted in 1992. The lyrics were written by poet Gennady Alamia, and the music composed by Valery Chkadua.^[1]

History

The lyrics were written after Abkhazia's proclamation of independence in 1992. They used as inspiration the Abkhazian revolutionary song "Kiaraz" (Abkhaz: «Кьараз») that originated during the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921).^[2]

In 1994, after the war for independence with Georgia, Valery Chkadua composed the anthem at the personal request of the first Abkhazian President Vladislav Ardzinba. Chkadua, who studied under Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitry Shostakovich, included various folk motives in the anthem. Chkadua, who refused royalties for the work, had written the anthem in the winter in a freezing, unheated house, but received housing as a thank you from the president.^[3]

After his election as second president of Abkhazia, Sergei Bagapsh issued a decree "On the State Anthem of the Republic of Abkhazia" that formally adopted "Aiaaira" as the national anthem on 24 October 2007.^[2]

Lyrics

Abkhaz lyrics[4]	Latin transliteration (ISO 9)	English translation
Шәнеибац, шәнеибац, Аҧсуаа рыҷкәынцәа. Аҧсны азыҳәан Ашьа казҭәаз, Аҧсуаа рыҷкәынцәа. Ахақәиҭраз Ашьа казҭәаз, Аҧсуаа рыҷкәынцәа. О-ҳо-ҳо-о ҳо-о-Рада О-ҳо-ҳо-о ҳо-о-Рада-Ра! Ажәҩан мрадоуп, еҵәадоуп Уара уда Аҧсынра! Еҵәa-бырлаш Аҧсынтәла, Улҧха згәаҵақәа ирҭыҧхо, Геи-шьхеи рыҧшӡара заҧшнылаз. Жәлар ламысла иҳаракоит. Рада, Реида, Рарира Рада, Рерама, Рерашьа. Нарҭаа риирa-зиироу Афырхацәа Ран-Гуашьа Аҧсынтәыла-иҧшьоч атәыла Зхы здиныҳәалаз Анцәа Зқьышықәасала имҩасхьо гылоуп Рыжәаҩа еибырҭоит уҧацәа. Шәнеибац Аҧсныжәлар! Аишьцәа, шәнеибац! Нхыҵ-аахыҵ ҳаицуп! Ҳазшаз илаҧш Ҳхыуп иаҳхымшәо Ҧеҧш лаша ҳзышуп! Шәнеибац, Аҧсныжәлар, Игылеит ҳамра, Иақәым ҭашәара! Урылагәыргьа, Анра-аҳшара Шьардаамҭа, Аҧсынра.	Šwneibac, šwneibac, Aṕsuaa ryçkwyncwa. Aṕsny azyḩa̋an Ašʹa kazţwaz, Aṕsuaa ryçkwyncwa. Ahaķwiţraz Ašʹa kazţwaz, Aṕsuaa ryçkwyncwa. O-ḩo-ḩo-o ḩo-o-Rada O-ḩo-ḩo-o ḩo-o-Rada-Ra! Ažwòan mradoup, eċwadoup Uara uda Aṕsynra! Eċwa-byrlaš Aṕsyntwla, Ulṕha zgwaċaķwa irţyṕho, Gei-šʹhei ryṕšźara zaṕšnylaz. Žwlar lamysla iḩarakoit. Rada, Reida, Rarira Rada, Rerama, Rerašʹa. Narţaa riira-ziirou Afyrhacwa Ran-Guašʹa Aṕsyntwyla-iṕšʹoč atwyla Zhy zdinyḩwalaz Ancwa Zķʹyšyķwasala imòashʹo gyloup Ryžwaòa eibyrţoit uṕacwa. Šwneibac Aṕsnyža̋lar! Aišʹcwa, šwneibac! Nhyċ-aahyċ ḩaicup! Ḩazšaz ilaṕš Ḩhyup iaḩhymšwo Ṕeṕš laša ḩzyšup! Šwneibac, Aṕsnyžwlar, Igyleit ḩamra, Iaķwym ţašwara! Urylagwyrgʹa, Anra-aḩšara Šʹardaamţa, Aṕsynra.	March on, march on, sons of Abkhazia! Shed our blood for Abkhazia, sons of Abkhazia! Shed our blood for independence, sons of Abkhazia! O-ho-ho-o-ho-o-rada O-ho-ho-o-ho-o-radara! Like the sun on the sky, you are always Abkhazia! Your love has warmed countless hearts, with mountains and seas put on you. Men's conscience also puts on you, Starry, sacred Abkhazia! Rada, Reyda, Rarira, Rada, Rerama, Rerasha! Mother of the hero, where Nart is born - how sacred! Abkhazia, may God bless you for thousands more of years to come. Children unite as one people, Brothers shoulder to shoulder. March on, Abkhazians! Brothers, march on! In Transcaucasia, we're always here, God's watching here, for a better future! March on, Abkhazians! The sun is rising! What a bright future! Love forever, that's God's bless to Abkhazia's bright future!

See also

• List of national anthems

Notes

1. Abkhazia's status is disputed. It considers itself to be an independent state, but this is recognised by only a few other countries. The Georgian government and most of the world's other states consider Abkhazia de jure a part of Georgia's territory. In Georgia's official subdivision it is an autonomous republic, whose government sits in exile in Tbilisi.

References

1. "National Anthem Downloads, Lyrics, & Information: NationalAnthems.us - Republic of Abkhazia". NationalAnthems.us. 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
2. "Гимн" (in Russian). Abkhazian Embassy in Russia. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
3. Kubatian, Grigory (14 January 2013). "Discovering a home of eccentrics". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
4. "State Symbols". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Abkhazia. Retrieved 9 July 2015.

External links

• National Anthem of Abkhazia - The website "Abkhazia, Land of the Seven Stars" has a page on the anthem that features both a vocal and an instrumental version.
• Abkhazia anthem and flag on YouTube