[Verse]
We are the youths of Cameroon,
Called to serve with heart and mind,
In truth, respect, and discipline,
Leaving every wrong behind.
No violence, no drugs, no hate,
We choose the righteous way,
With hard work, peace, and unity,
We build tomorrow, starting today.
[Chorus]
Oh youths arise, Cameroon calls,
At sixty years we proudly stand,
With faith, with hope, with dignity,
We shape the future of our land.
Say no to crime, say yes to right,
Together hand in hand,
We are the hope, the voice, the strength,
The pride of Cameroon our land.
[Coda (Ending)]
Forward ever, backward never,
Youth with vision, bold and true,
Cameroon’s future shines so bright,
Because it starts with me and you.
[Optional Njang-style Coda (chant) — use instead of or following the original Coda]
(Short percussive phrases, call-and-response, easy syllables to lock into njang rhythm)
For-ward ev-er — for-ward ev-er (clap, clap)
Back-ward ne-ver — back-ward ne-ver (clap, clap)
Youth with vi-sion — bold and true (ah-ya! ah-ya!)
Cam-er-oon shines — be-gin with you (eh-ya! eh-ya!)
Call & Response pattern (example):
Leader: "For-ward ev-er!" Choir: "For-ward ev-er!" (repeat x2)
Leader: "Cam-er-oon!" Choir: "Be-gin with you!" (repeat x2)
(Repeat chant 2–4 times building percussion and claps; add a final unison shout of the original last line: "Because it starts with me and you.")
[Performance Notes — competition-ready (concise)]
- Tempo: 100–110 BPM (suggest 104 BPM for semi-final clarity)
- Key: C major or G major (choose based on singers' comfortable top note)
- Vocal range: keep melody within one octave (avoid leaps >P8)
- Voicing: Verses in unison for power and clarity; Chorus in strong unison with optional 2-part harmony (thirds) on repeated lines for impact
- Dynamics: Start mezzo, swell on final chorus, full forte on the coda chant
- Percussion / groove (njang-inspired): 4/4 with a syncopated njang motif — congas + shakers + small hand drum/rototom; add kalimba or light guitar arpeggio under verse
- Suggested percussion motif (patterns split across 4 beats):
• Kick-style pulse on beats 1 and 3; light conga slap on the & of 2 and & of 4
• Cross-stick or clap on beats 2 and 4 (school claps work great)
• Add syncopated njang flourish leading into the chorus and during the coda chant
[Structure timing suggestions — semi-anthem format]
- Intro: 4 bars (percussion motif + soft unison hum)
- Verse: 8 bars
- Chorus: 8 bars
- Verse: 8 bars (or repeat/alternate text)
- Chorus: 8 bars (full)
- Optional Bridge (ask permission to include): 8–12 bars
- Coda: Original Coda lines once, then Optional Njang-style Coda chant repeated 2–4 times to finish
[Syllable counts per line to help melody & percussion fitting]
Verse (approx): 8 - 7 - 8 - 7 - 8 - 6 - 8 - 9
Chorus (approx): 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 6 - 8 - 8
Coda (approx): 8 - 6 - 8 - 7
[Optional Bridge — include only if you want an extra section for staging (mark as optional)]
If you permit a bridge, we can add a short,