Cherifian Anthem

The Cherifian Anthem (النشيد الشريف) is the national anthem of Morocco. Composed by French military officer and chief of music for the royal Moroccan guard Léo Morgan, it has been in use since the French protectorate period. Lyrics were written for it by the Moroccan author and poet Professor Ali Squalli Houssaini and adopted in 1970.

History
The anthem's melody was composed by Léo Morgan, a French military officer and chief of music for the royal Moroccan guard, during the French protectorate. The anthem was believed to have been composed in 1952, four years before Morocco's independence in 1956.

After the Moroccan national football team qualified for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico for the first time, the idea to write lyrics for the anthem was proposed. Lyrics by writer Ali Squalli Houssaini were either chosen as part of a competition by King Hassan II, or by direct commission of the King to write the lyrics.