National Anthem Comparison
Burkina Faso vs Guinea
3
Shared themes
✓
Same mood
26
26 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Burkina Faso and Guinea, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Burkina Faso's "A Single Night" was written in 1984, while Guinea's "Liberty" dates to 1958.
Both anthems share themes of Independence, Unity and Freedom. Burkina Faso additionally explores Revolution and Battle / War, while Guinea also touches on Ancestors / Heritage.
Both anthems carry a Defiant tone, creating a similar emotional register despite their geographic distance.
Burkina Faso changed its national anthem in 1984, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Burkina Faso
🔥 Revolution 🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War
Guinea
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Shared themes:
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Burkina Faso | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1984 | 1958 |
| Adopted | 1984 | 1958 |
| Lyricist | Thomas Sankara | Sekou Toure (attributed) |
| Composer | Thomas Sankara | Keita Fodeba |
| Language | fr | fr |
| Region | West Africa | West Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Burkina Faso
Une Seule Nuit
Original
Contre la férule humiliante il n'y a pas
De consentement,
À la misère pas de trêve;
Libertaires et progressistes
Conjugons ensemble nos efforts,
Pour la Patrie en marche vers son indépendance.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Et le Peuple debout sur les créneaux de la saison
Profère la solennelle volonté
De défier la nuit réactionnaire,
Envahisseurs d'antan et d'aujourd'hui,
Pillards sans foi ni loi.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Et le Peuple armé de sa volonté
Défie le ciel malheureux,
Contre la tyrannie il oppose
Sa grandeur à l'oppression séculaire.
La flamme du bonheur est dans nos cœurs.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Face à la misère en rangs serrés
Nous refusons la trêve des combats.
La mère Afrique entendra nos cris
Face aux fossoyeurs de la Liberté.
La victoire ou la mort nous y tiendrons.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Portons au cœur de notre Nation
L'amour de la Patrie et de la Liberté.
Car le bien du Peuple est notre idéal,
Et dans l'unité et la dignité
Nous bâtirons l'Afrique.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Gloire au Peuple, gloire à la Lutte,
Liberté, un seul combat.
En avant, Afrique en marche,
En avant, Afrique en marche.
Une Seule Nuit a rassemblé en nous
L'histoire de tout un Peuple.
Translation
Against the humiliating bondage, there is no
Consent,
To misery no truce;
Libertarians and progressives
Let us join our efforts together,
For the Fatherland marching toward its independence.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
And the People standing on the ramparts of the season
Proclaim the solemn will
To defy the reactionary night,
Invaders of past and present,
Plunderers without faith or law.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
And the People armed with their will
Defy the wretched sky,
Against tyranny they oppose
Their greatness to age-old oppression.
The flame of happiness burns in our hearts.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
Facing misery in tight ranks
We refuse a truce from the battles.
Mother Africa shall hear our cries
Against the gravediggers of Freedom.
Victory or death, we shall hold firm.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
Let us carry in the heart of our Nation
The love of Fatherland and of Freedom.
For the good of the People is our ideal,
And in unity and dignity
We shall build Africa.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
Glory to the People, glory to the Struggle,
Freedom, a single fight.
Forward, Africa on the march,
Forward, Africa on the march.
A Single Night has gathered within us
The history of an entire People.
Guinea
Liberte
Original
Peuple d'Afrique!
Le passé historique!
Que chante l'hymne de la Guinée fière et jeune,
Illustrez la charte de l'unité,
Appelez les frères de la Mère Afrique.
[Chorus]
Liberté! C'est la voix d'un peuple
Qui appelle tous ses frères à se retrouver.
Liberté! C'est la voix d'un peuple
Qui appelle tous ses frères de la grande Afrique.
Bâtissons l'unité africaine
Dans l'indépendance retrouvée.
Peuple d'Afrique!
Le passé historique!
À toi mère Afrique, la Guinée fière et jeune
Rendons hommage à l'unité,
Saluons les frères de la grande Afrique.
[Chorus]
Translation
People of Africa!
The historic past!
Let the hymn of a proud and young Guinea be sung,
Illustrate the charter of unity,
Call the brothers of Mother Africa.
[Chorus]
Liberty! It is the voice of a people
Who call all their brothers to come together.
Liberty! It is the voice of a people
Who call all their brothers of great Africa.
Let us build African unity
In our newfound independence.
People of Africa!
The historic past!
To you, Mother Africa, proud and young Guinea
Pays tribute to unity,
Hails the brothers of great Africa.
[Chorus]
Interesting facts
Burkina Faso
- 1. Sankara was also an accomplished guitarist who played in a band called 'Tout-a-Coup Jazz,' and his musical background informed the anthem's composition.
- 2. Unlike most African anthems written in French or English, the anthem's title 'Une Seule Nuit' carries a double meaning in French, evoking both a literal single night and the idea of emerging from darkness.
- 3. After Sankara's assassination by his former ally Blaise Compaore, the new government kept the anthem unchanged despite purging most other symbols of the Sankara era.
Guinea
- 1. Guinea was the only French colony in Africa to reject de Gaulle's 1958 referendum, choosing immediate independence; France withdrew all support in retaliation
- 2. The anthem strongly emphasizes Pan-African solidarity, reflecting President Sekou Toure's vision of continental African unity
- 3. Keita Fodeba, who composed the music, was also a world-renowned choreographer who founded the famous Ballets Africains ensemble
Listen
Burkina Faso
Guinea
