National Anthem Comparison
Burkina Faso vs Mali
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
22
22 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Burkina Faso and Mali, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Burkina Faso's "A Single Night" was written in 1984, while Mali's "Mali" dates to 1962.
Both anthems share themes of Unity, Freedom and Battle / War. Burkina Faso additionally explores Revolution and Independence, while Mali also touches on Hope.
The emotional tones differ: Burkina Faso's anthem is Defiant, while Mali's is Proud.
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
Mali
🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🌅 Hope
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War
Metadata
| Burkina Faso | Mali | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1984 | 1962 |
| Adopted | 1984 | 1962 |
| Lyricist | Thomas Sankara | Seydou Badian Kouyaté |
| Composer | Thomas Sankara | Banzumana Sissoko |
| 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.
Mali
Le Mali
Original
À ton appel Mali
Pour ta prospérité
Fidèle à ton destin
Nous serons tous unis
Un peuple, un but, une foi
Pour une Afrique Unie
Si l'ennemi découvre son front
Au dedans ou au dehors
Debout sur les remparts
Nous sommes résolus de mourir
[Refrain]
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre drapeau sera liberté.
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre combat sera unité.
Ô Mali d'aujourd'hui
Ô Mali de demain
Les champs fleurissent d'espérance
Les cœurs vibrent de confiance
Debout villes et campagnes
Debout femmes, jeunes et vieux
Pour la patrie en marche
Vers l'avenir radieux
Pour notre dignité
Renforçons bien nos rangs
Pour le salut public
Forgeons le bien commun
Ensemble au coude à coude
Faisons le sentier du bonheur
[Refrain]
La voie est dure très dure
Qui mène au bonheur commun
Courage et dévouement
Vigilance à tout moment
Vérité des temps anciens
Vérité de tous les jours
Le bonheur par le labeur
Fera le Mali de demain
[Refrain]
L'Afrique se lève enfin
Saluons ce jour nouveau
Saluons la liberté
Marchons vers l'unité
Dignité retrouvée
Soutient notre combat
Fidèle à notre serment
De faire l'Afrique unie
Ensemble debout mes frères
Tous au rendez-vous de l'honneur
[Refrain]
Translation
At your call, Mali
For your prosperity
Loyal towards your destiny
We will be all united,
One people, one goal, one faith,
For a united Africa
If the enemy should show himself
Inside or outside,
Standing on the ramparts,
We are ready to die.
[Chorus]
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our banner shall be liberty.
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our fight shall be for unity.
Oh, Mali of today,
Oh, Mali of tomorrow,
The fields are flowering with hope
Hearts are thrilling with confidence.
Standing town and country
Standing women, young and old
For the country moving
Towards a bright future
For our dignity
Let us strengthen our ranks well
For the public salvation
Let us forge the common good
Together shoulder to shoulder
Let us make the path of happiness
[Chorus]
The path is hard very hard
Which leads to common happiness
Courage and dedication
Vigilance at all times
Truth of ancient times
Truth everyday
Happiness through labour
Will make the Mali of tomorrow
[Chorus]
Africa finally rises
Let us welcome this new day
Let us welcome liberty
Let us march towards unity
New found dignity
Supports our fight
True to our oath
Of making Africa united
My brothers standing together
All at the appointment of honour
[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.
Mali
- 1. The anthem became official by law n° 62-72 of 9 August 1962, two years to the day after Mali's independence; the law fixes both the title 'Le Mali' and the four verses with refrain.
- 2. Seydou Badian Kouyaté, the lyricist, was a French-trained physician and the author of the 1957 novel Sous l'orage; he served as Minister of Rural Development under Modibo Keïta and went into exile after the 1968 coup.
- 3. Banzumana Sissoko, blind from childhood, was already known across West Africa as the ngoni master nicknamed le vieux lion de Ségou before he reworked the medieval air the anthem now carries.
- 4. The Malian Pioneer movement of the 1960s translated the lyrics into Bambara as 'Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali'; the translation, attributed to Abdulay Bari, is sung at school assemblies to this day.
Listen
Burkina Faso
Mali
