And finally "the DESSALINIENNE" was definitively adopted as National anthem, played and sung in all official ceremonies.
We must remember Justin LHÉRISSON a true patriot who picked the right words, symbol of national pride, and that of Nicolas GEFFRARD whose musical inspiration along with suitable rhythms matched these words.
Their names affixed to "the DESSALINIENNE" are remembered forever.
The August 5, 1919's law officially devoted the DESSALINIENNE as National anthem of Haiti.
Former Cathedral of Port-au-Prince where was sung twice the national anthem of Haiti.
In June 1903, the National Association of the Centenary of Independence launched a contest for the Composition of a National anthem.
The latter should be intoned with the inauguration of the commemorative monuments erected to the glory of our forefathers.
The contest was opened and included two parts: words and music. The manuscripts of the poem were to be submitted at least on June 30, and to bear a motto as a signature; another sealed document should include the name of the author.
The members of this Jury, designated on a secret vote by the board of management, were:
STENIO VINCENT, lawyer, journalist.
FERNAND HIBBERT, man of letters, novelist.
ARSENE CHERY, poet, author of the Areytos.
SOLON MENOS, poet, doctor at the Paris Faculty of Law, former Minister of Foreign Relations.
CHARLES MORAVIA, poet, man of letters, journalist.
From the six documents submitted to the jury's appreciation, by four votes against one, "the DESSALINIENNE", signed SAMBA, got the first prize.
It was an Anthem written with simple words along with an alert style, easy, where a touch of true patriotism was expressed.
The contest for the music was closed on September 30, 1903.
The best recognized musical adaptation was that of Nicolas Geffrard.
The bustling martial style of the winning poem was well appropriate with the short rhymes, clear and emotional.
Additional members of the Jury selected on a secret vote were:
Occide JEANTY Jr,
COURTOIS Julien,
BASQUIAT,
ROUMAIN Edmond,
Dr. Edmond SAINTONGE,
Dr. MAHOTTIERE
Herman HERAUX.
The “DESSALINIENNE” was sung for the first time in Saint-Marc, on the fatherland's structure, on October 17, 1903, at the request of Dr. Clément Lanier, when a bust of the Emperor Jean-Jacques DESSALINES was erected.
A second time, on November 29, 1903, Centenary of the entrance of the indigenous troops into the “Cap Français,” today's
(Cap-Haitien) at the "Petit Theatre" of Port-au-Prince by the students of "the School of Music".
On January 1, 1904, centennial anniversary of the Independence of Haiti "the DESSALINIENNE" was sung twice, after a morning prayer held at the former Cathedral on the place of the Intendance where was laid the foundation stone of a monument dedicated to our forefathers, and then at the "Petit Theatre" where the festivities of this impressive commemoration had to proceed.
