Nälkämaan laulu

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Nälkämaan laulu (Song of the Hunger Land) is a Finnish poem by Ilmari Kianto. It was turned into a song by Oskar Merikanto and became the regional anthem of the Kainuu region. The piece was first performed in 1911. In 2005 Kianto’s daughter Raija-Liisa Kianto translated the lyrics into Swedish as Hungerlandets sång. The song celebrates the beauty of Kainuu, the hard-working and resilient people (sisu), and pride in their homeland. It speaks of listening to the whisper of the forests and the sound of the lakes, facing tough times with courage, and building a new land with spirit and hard work. It emphasizes that freedom comes from inner strength, not from swords, and calls the people of Kainuu to stand up, keep their honor, and shape their country.