For a new anthem?

Hello everyone,

The APROFED association is back in this last week of 2025, following up on its 3 previous articles on the country’s identity symbols :

– of February 27, 2025 concerning the name of the country (see An agreement for a federated state of Kaledony – APROFED ),

– of March 3rd relating to the flag (see Proposal for a common flag – APROFED ),

– and of April 21 on the principle of the country (see “Respect, Equity, Solidarity” – APROFED ),

This time, the aim is to consider the possibility of a new anthem for New Caledonia  ; the current one is rarely used and even unknown to the local population . The anthem has garnered fewer than 60,000 views on sites like YouTube for a New Caledonian population of nearly 270,000.

Indeed, the New Caledonian anthem “Soyons unis, devenons frères  “ (see Anthem of New Caledonia – Let us be united, let us become brothers ) , composed by the territory’s choir Mélodia , although approved by the Council of State and unanimously by the members of the Congress of New Caledonia in 2010, was adopted, albeit with some reservations expressed by most elected officials regarding the lyrics. The president of the Congress’s Special Commission on Identity Symbols, Jean-Pierre Djaïwé, noted on this occasion that modifications could be made by the government in the future (see Let us be united, let us become brothers – Wikipedia ).

Numerous criticisms were raised, not only by those opposed to independence, who felt the text would stigmatize non-native Caledonian citizens. The mention of the three provinces, entities that could potentially disappear depending on the country’s institutional evolution, also sparked debate. On the pro-independence side , the lack of explicit reference to the country’s history, the absence of any mention of Kanak identity, and the preference for other markers of identity were the main criticisms, leading some to abstain from the vote in Congress.

Little known to the Caledonian people, who have not adopted it, it is rarely taught in schools and its learning is often limited to the refrain in French. Barely heard in New Caledonia, it paradoxically seems to be performed more often outside the country than locally, particularly during international sporting events (which inevitably leads to some confusion) (cf. Heeun-kot, “singing together”: an anthem to the tune of “common destiny” for New Caledonia? ).

The Caledonian commissions for Education, Labour and Training, as well as for Culture, Youth and Sports, which were more hesitant, even issued an opinion against the words being displayed in the classrooms of all schools in the country.

The artistic director of the Mélodia choir, who created the anthem, even denounced the lack of support from the authorities in promoting it. Some elected officials weren’t even familiar with the anthem.

If the people of New Caledonia have not adopted this anthem, it is primarily because the approach remains highly political. For those who support New Caledonia remaining part of France, the only anthem is  La Marseillaise . For those who support an independent Kanaky, there can only be an anthem when there is a sovereign state (see Heeun-kot, “singing together”: an anthem to the tune of “common destiny” for New Caledonia? ).

The association has, however, noted some interesting projects since then,  such as:

– the song “Soleil” by the artist Grégoire, covered in September 2024 , 4 months after the start of the uprising, by the children of a local primary school, which garnered over 200,000 views online (see VIDEO. “We all have the same sun”: when a cover by schoolchildren in New Caledonia moves the internet )

– the song “Oui ma belle Kanaky” by Hyarison from 2020 which has over 2 million views online (see HYARISON – OUI, MA BELLE KANAKY )

– the song “Avec toi” by the group Nodeak, also dating from 2020 (see NODEAK – AVEC TOI ),

– the song “Makukuti Kanaky” by Djo Bnca from 2024, with nearly 3 million views, considered the anthem of the struggle for Kanaky, like the Marseillaise for the French,

– or even the track “Oh Kanaky, promised land” by the group IA Kanaky , dating from 2025, which aims to be a cover of the Marseillaise adapted to the context of the territory (see Ô Kanaky, promised land – 7 – (psychedelic, hip hop) ). With the help of AI, the group offers this song in several different rhythms and in several languages ​​(English, Corsican, Creole, …).

Wishing you a pleasant read and reminding you that federalism is the only solution to reconcile unity in diversity.

And wishing you happy holidays and see you next year.

L’association APROFED