The composer of the music (Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti) is Italian, which is not that uncommon for "Latin American epic anthems" such as this one, as they often resemble Italian operatic pieces. The author of the lyrics was an ardent patriot, a signer of the Bolivian Declaration of Independence, and of the first constitution of the country.
Anthem Lyrics
"Canción Patriótica" (Patriotic Song)
Bolivianos el hado propicio
Coronó nuestros votos y anhelo;
Es ya libre, ya libre este suelo,
Ya cesó su servil condición.
Al estruendo marcial que ayer fuera
Y al clamor de la guerra horroroso,
Siguen hoy en contraste armonioso
Dulces himnos de paz y de unión.
Siguen hoy en contraste armonioso
Dulces himnos de paz y de unión.
CHORUS:
De la Patria, el alto nombre
En glorioso esplendor conservemos
Y en sus aras de nuevo juremos
¡morir antes que esclavos vivir!
¡morir antes que esclavos vivir!
¡morir antes que esclavos vivir!
Aqui alzó la justicia su trono,
Que la vil opresión desconoca.
Y este timbre glorioso legóse.
Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!
Que los hijos del grande Bolívar
Han ya mil y mil veces jurado,
Morir antes que ver humillado
De la Patria el augusto pendón.
CHORUS
Loor eterno a los bravos guerreros,
Cuyo heroíco valor y firmeza,
Conquistaron las glorias que empieza
Hoy Bolivia feliz a gozar.
Que sus nombres el mármol y el bronce
A remotas edades transmitan
y en sonoros cantares repitan:
Nuestros hijos y nietos a par.
CHORUS
Anthem Lyrics English
Bolivians, a favourable destiny
Has crowned our vows and longings;
This land is free,
Your servile state has ended.
The martial turmoil of yesterday
And the horrible clamour of war
Are followed today, in harmonious contrast,
By sweet hymns of peace and unity.
Are followed today, in harmonious contrast,
By sweet hymns of peace and unity.
CHORUS:
We have kept the lofty name of our country
In glorious splendour,
And on its altars we once more swear
To die, rather than live as slaves.
To die, rather than live as slaves.
To die, rather than live as slaves.
This innocent and beautiful land,
Which owes its name to Bolivar,
Is the happy homeland where men
Enjoy the benefits of good fortune and peace.
For the sons of the great Bolivar
Have sworn, thousands upon thousands of times,
To die rather than see the country's
Majestic flag humiliated.
CHORUS
Eternal praise to the brave warriors
Whose heroic valour and firmness
Conquered the glories that now
A happy Bolivia begins to enjoy!
Let their names, in marble and in bronze,
Transmit to remote ages
And in resounding song repeat the call:
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
CHORUS
Bolivia Flag
Bolivia Flag
Flag History
The red symbolizes the blood of the national heroes, sacrifice, and love. The yellow stands for the mineral resources and for the Incas, who were the first to make use of them. Green is a symbol of eternal hope, evolution, and progress.
Flag Date of Adoption
31 October 1851
Flag Symbolism
The flag has three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green. The state flag also has a coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band