Launch of International Contest to Compose Aramaic National Anthem for Aramean People
Today, we proudly launch an International Contest to compose an Aramaic National Anthem for the Aramean People! The letter below gives all the details you need for now. More information and a live program on our Aramaic TV Channel Suryoyo Sat will follow soon.
Dear fellow Arameans,
It is with great excitement that we announce an international contest to compose a long-overdue national anthem for the Aramean people! As a people with an ancient history, a rich cultural heritage, and a national flag, we believe it is time for us to have our own national anthem that reflects our values and identity.
To create this anthem, we want to establish an international committee of 7 to 9 Aramean experts, including poets, singers, musicians, and others. If you are interested, email zmirto [at] wca-ngo.org with an updated CV, a photo, and your motivation until 10 March 2023. We will confirm receipt of your email, but we will only contact and announce the selected members by 20 March 2023.
We further invite Arameans worldwide to submit one or both of the following components until 16 July 2023, the day of the WCA’s 40th anniversary:
1) a patriotic text in Aramaic consisting of up to 5 couplets or stanzas that:
a) can be inspired by our centuries-old mimre (“narrative poems”) and madroshe (“stanzaic poems; teaching songs”), including the syllabic meters of St. Ephrem (†373: 7 + 7), St. Balay (†c. 435: 5 + 5), St. Jacob of Serugh (†521; 12 + 12), or other ancient Aramaic literary genres.
b) should convey the unique story of the Aramean people and harmonize their past, present and future identity.
c) should empower the Aramean group identity and solidarity, while the lyrics should further instill a sense of belonging and responsibility, passion, pride, and honor in the hearts and minds of Arameans.
d) can be written in one or a combination of Aramaic dialects, but where the lyrics as a whole should express the unity in linguistic, religious, and regional diversity of our multifaceted Aramean nation.
2) a musical composition that should be innovative and appealing to young and old, but which at its core should reflect our ancient musical traditions. It should include a melody, harmony, rhythm, and instrumentation.
The committee will carefully and objectively study all submissions and choose a winner on 10 September 2023. On 1 October 2023, on Aram Day or the Aramean New Year, we will endeavor to have our national anthem performed during a LIVE event by an internationally renowned Aramean singer.
Please note that this is an international contest and that the winner of the lyrics will receive a prize of 1,500 euros, and the winner of the musical component will receive 2,000 euros. The number two will receive 1,000 euros for the lyrics and 1,500 euros for the musical component.
We encourage all Arameans to participate in this historic development, as we believe that this is an excellent opportunity to unite our communities worldwide. Creating an anthem will further strengthen our group values, identity, respect, and solidarity. Needless to state, we are passionate about composing an Aramaic national anthem that all of us and our future generations can be proud of. And once we will have one, we will select and celebrate a National Anthem Day!
Therefore, we would like to thank all of our fellow Arameans for their interest and support in this initiative. Please spread the word about the contest and let us all work together to create a powerful and inspiring Aramaic national anthem that will elate and elevate our great people for generations to come.
Yours sincerely,
World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
Its Member Federations
Suryoyo Sat
Download the letter here in PDF
