Rwanda's original national anthem, written when the country achieved independence from Belgium in 1962, was called "Rwanda Rwacu" ("Our Rwanda"). Independence was achieved at a time of high tension, following the Rwandan Revolution: centuries of rule by the minority Tutsi group had been overturned in just three years, the majority Hutu taking power in a violent upheaval, and forcing more than 100,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The subsequent thirty years, under the presidencies of Grégoire Kayibanda and Juvénal Habyarimana, were marked by continued cycles of violence, culminating in the 1990s with the launch of the Rwandan Civil War by exiled Tutsi led by Paul Kagame,^[6] the assassination of President Habyarimana, and the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsi and politically moderate Hutu were killed by Hutu extremists, on the orders of the interim government, in the space of just 100 day.

"Independência total" is the national anthem of São Tomé and Príncipe. The anthem, adopted in 1975, was written by Alda Neves da Graça do Espírito Santo (1926–2010) and composed by Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e Almeida (born 1933).

The anthem is performed at national celebrations, official ceremonies, and sporting events, reinforcing its role in uniting the São Toméan people and celebrating their heritage. The anthem’s stirring lyrics and melody inspire a sense of unity and pride among the people of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Le Lion rouge" (Wolof: Gayndeg sibi xiiru na; English: "The Red Lion"), more commonly known by its incipit "Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons" (Wolof: Yëngalleen kooraa yi, te jiin ndënd yi; English: "Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons") is the national anthem of Senegal. It was adopted in 1960.

Senegal first gained independence in June of 1960 in a federation with Mali called the Mali Federation. The anthem of this federation, titled “Un Hymn du Mali” (A Song of Mali), used lyrics written by a prominent Senegalese politician, the music was written by a Malian, and thus was deemed to require replacing when the federation dissolved two months later, as Mali retained the music upon its independence from the federation. New music was written by a French composer who also composed the music for the Central African Republic and the lyrics of the federation’s anthem (whose author was now the country’s first president) were retained, with some slight changes.

"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free" is the national anthem of Sierra Leone. Written by Clifford Nelson Fyle and composed by John Akar in a nationwide competition, it was adopted in 1961 when the country became independent from the United Kingdom, replacing "God Save The Queen". 

 The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, makes it the responsibility of every citizen of Sierra Leone to "respect its ideals and its institutions", including the national anthem.

"Soomaaliyeey toosoo" ("Somalis, Wake Up") was the national anthem of Somalia from 2000 until August 2012. It was adopted by the Transitional National Government, replacing the unnamed former national anthem.

Though contested, the majority believe the lyrics of the earlier Somalia National Anthem were composed by Yusuf Haji Adam and Ali Mire Awale.

"Soomaaliyeey toosoo" is a well-known Somali song that dates from the early 1940s. It was first composed by Yusuf Haji Adam and Cali Mire Cawaale, sometime in the 1940s.

It was sung to mark independence day on July 1, 1960, and was regularly performed by children in the mornings at schools. "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" was officially adopted in July 2000 to mark the 40th anniversary of Somalian independence.

In August 2012, following the endorsement of Somalia's new Provisional Constitution, "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" was replaced as the national anthem by "Qolobaa Calankeed".

"Soomaaliyeey toosoo" ("Somalis, Wake Up") was the national anthem of Somalia from 2000 until August 2012. It was adopted by the Transitional National Government, replacing the unnamed former national anthem.

Though contested, the majority believe the lyrics of the earlier Somalia National Anthem were composed by Yusuf Haji Adam and Ali Mire Awale.

"Soomaaliyeey toosoo" is a well-known Somali song that dates from the early 1940s. It was first composed by Yusuf Haji Adam and Cali Mire Cawaale, sometime in the 1940s.

It was sung to mark independence day on July 1, 1960, and was regularly performed by children in the mornings at schools. "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" was officially adopted in July 2000 to mark the 40th anniversary of Somalian independence.

In August 2012, following the endorsement of Somalia's new Provisional Constitution, "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" was replaced as the national anthem by "Qolobaa Calankeed".

The national anthem of South Africa was adopted in 1997 and is a hybrid song combining extracts of the 19th century Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (English: "God Bless Africa", lit. '"Lord Bless Africa"') and the Afrikaans song that was used as the South African national anthem during the apartheid era, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Voice of South Africa"), with new English lyrics.

The committee responsible for this new composition included Anna Bender, Elize Botha, Richard Cock, Dolf Havemann (Secretary), Mzilikazi Khumalo (chairman), Masizi Kunene, John Lenake, Fatima Meer, Khabi Mngoma, Wally Serote, Johan de Villiers, and Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph

"South Sudan Oyee!" is the national anthem of South Sudan; it was selected by the South Sudan National Anthem Committee of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement following the launch of a competition to find a national anthem in August 2010. This preceded the independence referendum in January 2011 that led to South Sudan becoming a sovereign state on 9 July 2011. "Oyee!" is an equivalent of "Hurrah!"

The committee received 49 entries for the anthem.^[4] The working title of the winning entry was "Land of Kush". A competition was held on live television in 2010.^[5]

The winning music was composed by students and teachers of Juba University.^[1][5]

The original version was drafted by Dr. Achier Deng Akol in 2005, following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, when it became clear that South Sudan may become independent. This original version, entitled "South Sudan Oyee", underwent improvement via specialised committees headed by Sudan People's Liberation Army General Malak Awien and former Minister of Information of South Sudan Dr. Barnaba Martial Benjamin.

"Naḥnu Jund Allāh Jund al-Waṭan" (Arabic: نحن جند الله جند الوطن; English: "We are Soldiers of God, Soldiers of the Homeland") is the national anthem of Sudan. The words were written by the poet Ahmed Mohammed Saleh and the tune was composed by Ahmed Morjan in 1955. It is officially called the Republican Salute (especially when played musically), as it is called for short, the Flag Anthem or Flag Salute.

The current national anthem of Sudan was originally the organizational anthem of the Sudan Defence Force prior to independence. The poem "We are the Soldiers of God, the Soldiers of Homeland" was chosen among other poems that participated in a general competition about poetic works praising the strength of the Sudan Defence Force in 1955. When Sudan gained independence in 1956, the first four verses of the poem were chosen to be the national anthem.

"Mungu ibariki Afrika" (English: "God bless Africa") is the national anthem of Tanzania. It is a Swahili language version of Enoch Sontonga's Xhosa language hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.

"Mungu ibariki Afrika" was translated and became the state anthem of Tanganyika. It was essentially assigned to Enoch Sontonga, who died in 1905. "Mungu ibariki Afrika" used the tune to "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" with a Swahili translation of the words. It is not known who composed the lyrics, but it is known that it was Samuel Mqhayi and Enoch Sontonga who created the early versions used by the African National Congress.

Composed by Alex Casimir-Dosseh & riginally adopted on independence in 1960, the national anthem was replaced in 1979 and restored in 1991, when Western-mandated reforms were brought in and one-party rule dropped.

"Terre de nos aïeux" (English: "Land of our forefathers") is the national anthem of Togo. The words and music were written by Alex Casimir-Dosseh  and it was the national anthem from independence in 1960 until 1979. In 1979, it was replaced in its capacity by a different composition created by the party of the Rally of the Togolese People. It was readopted in 1992.

The lyrics of the Tunisian anthem were written by an Egyptian in the 1930s. Originally just one verse, another two were added by the Tunisian national poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi. The music was composed by the same person who wrote the music of the anthems of Libya and the United Arab Emirates. It was first used as an interim anthem after the deposition of the monarchy, between the times when the Bey’s anthem was abolished and the first anthem under the republic was instituted. It was then introduced again in 1987 since the previous anthem was closely tied to the government of Habib Bourguiba, who had been deposed.

 It was first used as an interim anthem after the deposition of the monarchy, between the times when the Bey’s anthem was abolished and the first anthem under the republic was instituted. It was then introduced again in 1987 since the previous anthem was closely tied to the government of Habib Bourguiba, who had been deposed.