Translation:
Arise, Congolese,
United by fate,
United in the effort for independence.
Let us hold our heads up, long bowed
And for good let us take our greatest stride,
In peace.
O ardent people,
Through hard work, we will build a country more beautiful than before,
In peace.
Citizens, intone the sacred hymn of your solidarity,
Proudly, salute the golden emblem of your sovereignty,
Congo!
Blessed gift, Congo!
Of our ancestors, Congo!
Blessed gift, Congo!
Our country, Congo!
Beloved, Congo!
We will people your soil and we will ensure your greatness.
June 30th, O sweet sun,
June 30th, of June 30th,
Sacred day, be the witness,
Sacred day of the immortal oath of freedom
That we bequeath to our posterity forever.

• Written by Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi and composed by Joseph Lutumba, Debout Congolais was adopted upon the country’s independence in 1960. It is a monumental anthem that captures the raw determination, historic resilience, and explosive passion of Congolese football culture. In a stadium environment—especially when the Leopards (Les Léopards) take the pitch in Kinshasa—the rendition is an absolute force of nature. The anthem builds with a rhythmic, swelling pride through the opening lines, but the atmosphere truly ignites during the call-and-response section. When the stadium bellows the name "Congo!" in unison, the energy becomes electric. The crowd reaches a thunderous, defiant crescendo on the final lines, turning the "immortel serment de liberté" (immortal oath of freedom) into a roaring mandate for victory on the pitch.