National Anthem Comparison
Burundi vs Rwanda
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
39
39 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Burundi and Rwanda, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Burundi's "Our Burundi" was written in 1962, while Rwanda's "Beautiful Rwanda" dates to 2001.
Both anthems share themes of unity, god / faith and peace. Burundi additionally explores ancestors / heritage and resilience, while Rwanda also touches on nature and hope.
The emotional tones differ: Burundi's anthem is proud, while Rwanda's is hopeful.
Burundi's anthem predates Rwanda's by 39 years, having been written in 1962 compared to 2001.
Rwanda changed its national anthem in 2002, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Burundi
🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace 💪 Resilience
Rwanda
🤝 Unity 🌿 Nature 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace ✝ God / Faith
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace
Metadata
| Burundi | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1962 | 2001 |
| Adopted | 1962 | 2002 |
| Lyricist | Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja | Faustin Murigo |
| Composer | Marc Barengayabo | Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana |
| Language | rn | rw |
| Region | East Africa | East Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Burundi
Burundi Bwacu
Original
Burundi Bwacu
Burundi Buhire
Shinga icumu mu mashinga
Gaba intahe y'ubugabo kubugingo.
Warapfunywe ntiwapfuye,
Warahabishijwe ntiwahababuka.
Uhagurukana,
Uhagurukana,
Uhagurukana ubugabo urikukira,
Ukomerwa amashi n'amakungu,
Uhabw' impundu n'abawe
Isamirane mu mashinga. (bis)
Burundi bwacu ragi rya basokuru
Ramutswa intahe n'ibihugu
Ufatanije ishaka n'ubuhizi.
Vuza impundu
Wiganzuye uwakuganza. (bis)
Burundi bwacu,
Nkora mutima kuri twese
Tugutuye amaboko, umutima n'ubuzima
Imana yakuduhaye ikudutungire.
Horana ubumwe n'abagabo n'itekane.
Sagwa n'urweze
Sagwa n'amahoro meza.
Translation
Our Burundi,
Blessed Burundi,
Plant your spear among the nations,
Hold for ever the staff of sovereignty.
You were crushed but did not die,
They tried to lead you astray, but you did not waver.
You rise up,
You rise up,
You rise up with courage and free yourself,
Applauded by the nations,
Acclaimed by your own people,
Let the acclaim resound among the nations. (repeat)
Our Burundi, heritage of our ancestors,
May the nations salute your sovereignty,
You who unite zeal and courage.
Sound the cheers,
You have freed yourself from the one who ruled you. (repeat)
Our Burundi,
Beloved of us all,
We offer you our hands, our hearts, and our lives.
May God who gave you to us keep you for us.
Always have unity, men of worth, and tranquillity.
Be filled with joy,
Be filled with good peace.
Rwanda
Rwanda Nziza
Original
Rwanda nziza Gihugu cyacu
Wuje imisozi, ibiyaga n'ibirunga
Ngobyi iduhetse gahorane ishya.
Reka tukurate tukuvuge ibigwi
Wowe utubumbiye hamwe twese
Abanyarwanda uko watubyaye
Berwa, sugira, singizwa iteka.
Horana Imana murage mwiza
Ibyo tugukesha ntibishyikirwa:
Umuco dusangiye uraturanga
Ururimi rwacu rukaduhuza
Ubwenge, umutima, amaboko yacu
Nibigukungahaze bikwiye
Nuko utere imbere ubutitsa.
Abakurambere b'intwari
Bitanze batizigama
Baraguhanga uvamo ubukombe
Utsinda ubukoroni na mpatsibuhugu
Byayogoje Afurika yose
None uraganje mu bwigenge
Tubukomeyeho uko turi twese.
Komeza imihigo Rwanda dukunda
Duhagurukiye kukwitangira
Ngo amahoro asabe mu bagutuye
Wishyire wizane muri byose
Urangwe n'ishyaka, utere imbere
Uhamye umubano n'amahanga yose
Maze ijabo ryawe riguhe ijambo.
Translation
Beautiful Rwanda, our country,
Adorned with hills, lakes and volcanoes,
Cradle that carries us, may you be forever filled with joy.
Let us praise you, let us tell of your great deeds,
You who gathered all of us together,
All Rwandans, just as you bore us,
Be lovely, flourish, be honoured for ever.
Dwell with God, our precious heritage,
What we owe you is beyond all measure;
The culture we share sets us apart,
Our language binds us to one another,
May our minds, our hearts and our hands
Enrich you as you deserve,
So that you may go forward without ceasing.
Our valiant forebears
Gave themselves without holding back
And made of you a great nation.
You overcame colonial and imperial rule,
Which laid waste to the whole of Africa,
And now you stand sovereign in your freedom,
Which all of us together will uphold.
Hold to your vows, Rwanda that we love,
We stand ready to give ourselves for you,
So that peace may dwell among your people,
That you may be free and self reliant in all things,
Marked by zeal and moving forward,
Strong in friendship with every nation,
So that your dignity may at last give you a voice.
Interesting facts
Burundi
- 1. Composer Marc Barengayabo was a young seminarian at Burasira when, in 1961, a government delegation led by Prime Minister André Muhirwa asked his seminary to entrust the anthem's music to him; he wrote it during a week-long retreat at the Mureke seminary.
- 2. The words are officially credited to Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja; the composer recalled that several Kirundi poets, Ntahokaja among them, wrote the text.
- 3. The choir of the Burasira major seminary first sang the anthem before parliament so that the deputies could approve it, but on Independence Day a recording was played instead of the choir.
Rwanda
- 1. Law 45/2001 of 8 December 2001 established the anthem. President Paul Kagame launched it together with the new flag and coat of arms at a ceremony on 31 December 2001, and the new symbols took effect on 1 January 2002.
- 2. The winning entries in the national contest came from Faustin Murigo, who wrote the words, and Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana, a captain in the Rwandan army brass band, who wrote the melody.
- 3. None of the four stanzas names an ethnic group: at the launch, the BBC reported that the new anthem would refer to Rwandans as one people rather than to Tutsi, Hutu and Twa, and the text praises the shared landscape, the common culture and the language that unites all Rwandans.
Listen
Burundi
Rwanda
