National Anthem Comparison
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Serbia
Comparison Analysis
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Bosnia and Herzegovina's "National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina" was written in 1999, while Serbia's "God of Justice" dates to 1872.
The two anthems take different thematic approaches. Bosnia and Herzegovina's focuses on , while Serbia's centers on God / Faith, Freedom, Unity, Resilience and Identity.
The emotional tones differ: Bosnia and Herzegovina's anthem is Solemn, while Serbia's is Prayerful.
Serbia's anthem predates Bosnia and Herzegovina's by 127 years, having been written in 1872 compared to 1999.
Bosnia and Herzegovina changed its national anthem in 1999, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Metadata
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1999 | 1872 |
| Adopted | 1999 | 2006 |
| Lyricist | Jovan Djordjevic | |
| Composer | Dusan Sestic | Davorin Jenko |
| Language | bs | sr |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine
Instrumental (no lyrics)
Serbia
Боже правде
Original
Translation
Interesting facts
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 1. One of only a few national anthems in the world with no official lyrics
- 2. Lyrics were proposed and approved by parliament in 2009 but have never been formally implemented
- 3. The anthem was chosen through an international competition after the Dayton Agreement
Serbia
- 1. The anthem is one of the few in Europe written as a prayer; its structure closely mirrors an Orthodox Christian hymn, reflecting Serbia's deep ties to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
- 2. During the Yugoslav era, the song survived as an unofficial patriotic tune performed at church gatherings and private celebrations, keeping it alive for over 80 years before its official restoration.
- 3. Davorin Jenko, the Slovenian who composed the melody, also wrote the music for what would become the Slovenian national anthem, making him the composer behind two different countries' anthems.
Listen
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
