This song was written during the First World War by Major Reyjade, a Moroccan infantry officer, in honor of his men, and its music was composed by the bandmaster Felix Boyer.

During the second world war, the African army, which was being reconstituted, naturally continued the singing of the Song of the Africans at the fronts where it was engaged, both in 1943 and 1944 with the French expeditionary corps in Italy, as well as during the Provence Landing, and subsequently during the French and German Campaigns, with General de Lattre de Tassigny’s 1st army.

Also, those who later on fought in French North Africa often start singing this song whenever they meet each other at the end of commemorations and other occasions that bring together veterans, as it resuscitates in them memories of those war days, and represents an opportunity for them to commune with their departed brothers.

In keeping with what has become one of their traditions, the members of the FNCV, during their closing ceremonies, never fail to sing in one voice this lively popular chorus, while standing to attention, before dispersing.

Editor’s note: The lyrics given here below are those of one of the two versions of the Song of the Africans.

                - I -
Nous étions au fond de l'Afrique,
Gardiens jaloux de nos couleurs,
quand sous un soleil magnifique
retentissait ce cri vainqueur,
en criant, en chantant, en avant!
serrons les rangs.

          - Refrain -
c'est nous les Africains
qui revenons de loin
Pour défendre la patrie
nous avons laissé la-bas
Nos parents , nos amis
et nous gardons au cœur
Une invincible ardeur
Car nous voulons porter haut et fier
Le beau drapeau de notre France entière
et si quelqu'un venait à y toucher
nous serions là pour mourir à ses pieds
Pour le pays, pour la Patrie, mourir au loin
C'est nous les Africains.

                    - II -
Pour le salut de notre Empire,
nous combattons tous les vautours,
La faim, la mort nous font sourire
quand nous luttons pour nos amours,
en criant, en chantant, en avant!
serrons les rangs.

                    - III -
De tous les horizons de France
groupés sur le sol africain,
nous venons pour la délivrance
qui par nous se fera demain,
en criant, en chantant,
en avant ! serrons les rangs.

                    - IV -
Et lorsque finira la guerre,
nous reviendrons dans nos gourbis,
Le cœur joyeux et l'âme fière
D'avoir libéré le pays
en criant, en chantant, en avant!
serrons les rangs.