This march was written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard.

[1][2] "La Dessalinienne" is named in honor of Haiti's revolutionary leader and first ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

[4] To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, a competition was held for a national anthem in 1903.

The poetic words of Justin Lhérisson and martial composition of Nicolas Geffrard won over the judges,[5] who preferred it to "L'Artibonitienne" by Capois diplomat Louis Edouard Pouget.

[4] The anthem was premiered at an October 1903 celebration of the Armée Indigène's entry into Port-au-Prince organised by the Association du Petit Théâtre.

[6]: 47  The text and music were printed at Bernard's in Port-au-Prince and distributed throughout the country during the week.

Notre passé nous crie : Ayez l'âme aguerrie!

Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo Se pou n[c] sekle se pou n[c] plante Se nan tè tout fòs nou chita Se li k[e] ba nou manje Ann bite tè, ann voye wou Ak kè kontan, fòk tè a bay Sekle, wouze, fanm tankou gason Pou-n[f] rive viv ak sèl fòs ponyèt nou.

Pou lòt peyi ka respekte l[k] Drapo sila a se nanm tout Ayisyen.

[nu gɛ̃ dɣa.po tã.ku tut pɛp] [se pun rɛ̃.mɛ̃l mu.ɣi pu li] [se pa ka.do blã te fɛ nu] [se sã zã.sɛt nu jo ki te ku.le] [pu nu kɛ̃.be dɣa.po nu wo] [se pun tɣa.vaj met tɛt ã.sãm] [pu lɔt pe.ji ka ɣes.pek.tel] [dɣa.po si.la a se nãm tut a.ji.sjɛ̃] For Haiti, the Country of the Ancestors we must walk hand in hand There must not be traitors among us – We alone must be our master Let us walk hand in hand that Haiti may be more beautiful Let us put our heads together for Haiti on behalf of all the ancestors

People are not born to serve others That is why all mothers and fathers Need to send children to school, to learn, to know what Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion did to take Haitians from under the whites' rope.

Let everyone to ask the Lord to grant us protection that the evil angels may not divert us, that we may walk in the right path.

Let us work together and focus that other countries may respect it This flag is the soul of every Haitian.