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National Anthem
After the proclamation of Kuwait's independence, the
Kuwaiti national anthem was written by the poet Meshari
Al-Adwani and was broadcast for the first time on 25
February 1978.
It is only played for use on special occasions, and as
such, is rarely heard in the nation itself.
The music was composed by Ibrahim Al-Soula
and arranged by Ahmad Ali.The
style is very similar to that of the
'Arab fanfare' style often used in neighboring
nations at one point or another in their histories. The Amiri Salute was composed
by Yusuf Adees in 1951 and was used until February 1978.
The National Salute consists of the first six bars of
the National Anthem.
National Flag
Kuwaiti flags came in all shapes and sizes from the
establishment of Kuwait until 1961. Up until 1961 the
flag of Kuwait was always based on a red background.
Kuwait has used 24 different flags since 1714. On gaining full
independence, the government decided to replace the old
flag with a new design. This was promulgated by a law
issued on September 7, 1961 ,some provisions of which were
amended on November 18, 1961. The first article stipulated that
Kuwait's national flag should consist of a horizontal
rectangle which is twice as long as it is wide.
The design of the Kuwait flag is believed to be based on
the Arab Revolt Flag of 1916, which was used as a symbol
of Arab nationalism during liberation struggles against
Ottoman (Turkish) rule.
The national flag
is
divided into three equal horizontal stripes, the top one
being green, the middle white and the bottom red, with
the side next to the flag pole forming the base of a
black trapezoid protruding into the stripes. Red, white,
black and green are referred to as pan-Arab colors and
have been linked to the Arab people and Islamic faith
for centuries. The colors on the Kuwait flag represent
Arab unity and independence and are used in the flags of
many countries in the region.
The colors
of the flag are derived from a poem by Safie Al-Deen Al-Hili.
The green color symbolizes Kuwaiti hospitality; the
white reveals Kuwait's commitment to peace; the red
signifies the Kuwait's determination to resist
aggression while the black reflects decisiveness.
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