Compare different anthems

National Anthem Comparison

Burkina Faso vs Mali

3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
22
22 years apart
✓
Same continent

Burkina Faso

Une Seule Nuit

A Single Night

Mali

Le Mali

Mali

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

I. Contre la férule humiliante il y a déjà mille ans La rapacité venue de loin les asservir il y a cent ans Contre la cynique malice métamorphosée En néocolonialisme et ses petits servants locaux Beaucoup flanchèrent et certains résistèrent Mais les échecs, les succès, la sueur, le sang Ont fortifié notre peuple courageux Et fertilisé sa lutte héroïque. REFRAIN Et une seule nuit a rassemblé en elle l'histoire de tout un peuple Et une seule nuit a déclenché sa marche triomphale Vers l'horizon du bonheur une seule nuit a réconcilié Notre peuple, avec tous les peuples du monde A la conquête de la liberté et du progrès. La Patrie ou la mort nous vaincrons. II. Nourris à la source vive de la révolution, Les engagés volontaires de la liberté et de la paix Dans l'énergie nocturne et salutaire du 4 août N'avaient pas que les armes à la main mais aussi et surtout La flamme au cœur pour légitimement libérer Le Faso à jamais des fers de tous ceux qui, Çà et là en polluaient l'âme sucrée De l'indépendance de la souveraineté III. Et séant désormais en sa dignité recouvrée L'amour et l'honneur en partage avec l'humanité Le peuple de Burkina chante un hymne à la victoire A la gloire du travail libérateur, émancipateur A bas l'exploitation de l'homme par l'homme, Hé ! en avant pour le bonheur de tout homme Par tous les hommes aujourd'hui et demain Par tous les hommes ici et pour toujours. IV. Révolution populaire nôtre, sève nourricière Maternité immortelle de progrès à visage d'homme Foyer éternel de démocratie consensuelle Où enfin l'identité nationale a droit de cité Où pour toujours l'injustice perd ses quartiers Et où des mains des bâtisseurs d'un monde radieux Mûrissent partout les moissons des vœux patriotiques Brillent les soleils infinis de joie.

Translation

I. Against the humiliating yoke, a thousand years ago already, Against the greed that came from afar to enslave them a hundred years ago, Against the cynical malice transformed Into neocolonialism and its petty local servants, Many faltered and some resisted, But the failures, the successes, the sweat, the blood Have strengthened our courageous people And made its heroic struggle fertile. REFRAIN And a single night gathered within itself the history of an entire people, And a single night set off its triumphal march Toward the horizon of happiness; a single night reconciled Our people with all the peoples of the world In the conquest of freedom and progress. Homeland or death, we shall prevail. II. Nourished at the living spring of the revolution, The committed volunteers of freedom and peace, In the saving night-time energy of the 4th of August, Had not only weapons in hand but also, and above all, The flame in their hearts to rightfully free Faso forever from the chains of all those who, Here and there, defiled its sweet soul Of independence, of sovereignty. III. And seated henceforth in its recovered dignity, Sharing love and honor with humanity, The people of Burkina sing a hymn to victory, To the glory of liberating, emancipating labor. Down with the exploitation of man by man! Hey! Forward for the happiness of every man, By all men, today and tomorrow, By all men, here and forever. IV. Our popular revolution, nourishing sap, Immortal motherhood of progress with a human face, Eternal hearth of consensual democracy, Where national identity at last has its rightful place, Where injustice loses its ground forever, And where, from the hands of the builders of a radiant world, The harvests of patriotic hopes ripen everywhere, The infinite suns of joy shine.

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 chantier 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 Fidèles 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 shall all be 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 resolved 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. Rise, towns and countryside, Rise, 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 of every day 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 Newfound dignity Supports our fight True to our oath Of making Africa united Together, rise, my brothers, All to the rendezvous of honour. [Chorus]

Interesting facts

Burkina Faso

  • 1. Sankara was an enthusiastic guitarist who played in a band called 'Tout-à-Coup Jazz'.
  • 2. Officially titled 'Le Ditanyè' ('Anthem of Victory'), the anthem takes its other name, 'Une Seule Nuit' ('One Single Night'), from the refrain, in which a single night gathers the history of a whole people and sets off its triumphal march; the second stanza names that night as 4 August, the date in 1983 when Sankara took power.
  • 3. After Sankara was killed in the 1987 coup that brought his former ally Blaise Compaoré to power, several revolutionary symbols were renamed, among them the country's largest square, the Place de la Révolution, and the national motto; the anthem was kept, and it still ends with the old motto, 'La Patrie ou la mort, nous vaincrons' ('Homeland or death, we shall overcome').

Mali

  • 1. The anthem became official by law n° 62-72 of 9 August 1962; the law fixes both the title 'Le Mali' and the text, four verses with refrain.
  • 2. Seydou Badian Kouyaté, the lyricist, took his medical doctorate at Montpellier and published the novel Sous l'orage in 1957; a minister under Modibo Keïta, first for the rural economy, he was imprisoned after the 1968 coup and went into exile once freed in 1975.
  • 3. Banzumana Sissoko, born blind around 1890 in the Ségou region, taught himself the ngoni and was known to his compatriots as le Vieux Lion, the Old Lion.
  • 4. The Malian Pioneer movement translated the lyrics into Bambara as 'Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali'; the translation is attributed to Abdulay Bari.

Listen

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso - Une Seule Nuit

Mali

Mali - Le Mali

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