<P> "Jamaica, Land We Love" is the official national anthem of Jamaica, adopted in July 1962 . The anthem was chosen after a competition from September 1961 until 31 March 1962, in which, the lyrics of the national anthem were selected by Jamaica's Houses of Parliament . When Jamaica was granted independence on 6 August 1962, "Jamaica, Land We Love" continued to be officially used as the national anthem . </P> <P> Prior to the declaration of the independence of Jamaica, Jamaica was made a West Indies Federation province of the British West Indies, still under the rule of the United Kingdom . The nation entered the federation under the rule of Premier Norman Manley, who also made various constitutional amendments to allow the process of decolonisation to rapidly take place . These amendments also allowed the country to have more self - governing powers and permitted the formation of a cabinet led by a premier . Premier Manley's participation in the West Indies Federation was unpopular and led to the independence of the country on 6 August 1962, and the national anthem selected in July 1962 was officially used from that date . </P> <P> In September 1961, the leading People's National Party announced a competition to write the lyrics of Jamaica's future national anthem, which would be judged by selected members of Jamaica's Houses of Parliament . The competition received almost one hundred script entries and the competition closed on 31 March 1962, after this ending date was decided on 17 March . The Houses of Parliament were given two options of anthems to vote for on 19 July 1962, and a script was chosen with an overwhelming majority . The winning script was written by Rev. Hon . Hugh Sherlock, the music was composed by Hon . Robert Lightbourne, and the anthem was arranged by Mapletoft Poulle and Christine Alison Poulle . </P> <Dl> <Dd> Eternal Father bless our land </Dd> <Dd> Guard us with Thy mighty hand </Dd> <Dd> Keep us free from evil powers </Dd> <Dd> Be our light through countless hours </Dd> <Dd> To our leaders, Great Defender, </Dd> <Dd> Grant true wisdom from above </Dd> <Dd> Justice, truth be ours forever </Dd> <Dd> Jamaica, land we love </Dd> <Dd> Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love . </Dd> </Dl>

Who wrote the words of the jamaican national anthem