National Anthem Comparison
Burundi vs Tanzania
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
1
1 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Burundi and Tanzania, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Burundi's "Our Burundi" was written in 1962, while Tanzania's "God Bless Africa" dates to 1961.
Both anthems share themes of unity, god / faith and peace. Burundi additionally explores ancestors / heritage and resilience, while Tanzania also touches on freedom and love of homeland.
The emotional tones differ: Burundi's anthem is proud, while Tanzania's is prayerful.
Shared themes
Burundi
🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace 💪 Resilience
Tanzania
✝ God / Faith 🤝 Unity ☮ Peace 🕊 Freedom ❤ Love of homeland
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace
Metadata
| Burundi | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1962 | 1961 |
| Adopted | 1962 | 1961 |
| Lyricist | Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja | Collective |
| Composer | Marc Barengayabo | Enoch Sontonga (melody) |
| Language | rn | sw |
| 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 spears,
Raise the testimony of courage for life.
You were bound but did not die,
You were struck but did not perish.
Rise up,
Rise up,
Rise up with courage and free yourself,
Applauded by the nations,
Acclaimed by your own people,
Let it resound among the spears. (repeat)
Our Burundi, heritage of our ancestors,
Entrusted with honor among nations,
Joined with zeal and bravery.
Sound the cheers,
You have freed yourself from whoever would dominate you. (repeat)
Our Burundi,
Heart 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, courage, and peace.
Be filled with joy,
Be filled with good peace.
Tanzania
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Original
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Wabariki viongozi wake
Hekima, umoja na amani
Hizi ni ngao yetu
Afrika na watu wake.
Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na umoja
Wake kwa waume na watoto
Mungu ibariki
Tanzania na watu wake.
Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki nchi yetu
Kwa haki na usawa
Amani na upendo
Kwa nchi yetu Tanzania.
Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.
Translation
God bless Africa,
Bless its leaders.
Wisdom, unity and peace,
These are our shields,
Africa and her people.
Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless us, the children of Africa.
God bless Tanzania,
Grant eternal freedom and unity
To its women, men and children.
God bless
Tanzania and its people.
Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless us, the children of Tanzania.
God bless Tanzania,
Bless our country.
With justice and equality,
Peace and love,
For our country Tanzania.
Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless us, the children of Tanzania.
Interesting facts
Burundi
- 1. The anthem's composer, Marc Barengayabo, was a Catholic seminarian and musician who blended Western choral harmonies with traditional Burundian drumming rhythms.
- 2. Burundi's royal drummers (the 'Karyenda') traditionally performed before any national ceremony; the anthem was designed to follow their drumming introduction.
- 3. The anthem is sometimes performed alongside Burundi's famous Royal Drummers of Burundi, whose UNESCO-recognized performances have toured internationally since the 1960s.
Tanzania
- 1. Tanzania's anthem is sometimes called the 'prayer anthem' because its entire text reads as a direct supplication to God, with no mention of war, enemies, or struggle, which is unusual for African anthems.
- 2. The anthem is performed at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by Tanzanian climbing guides as a tradition when their groups reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
- 3. Unlike most African nations that changed anthems after independence, Tanzania has never altered a single word of its anthem since 1961, making it one of the most stable anthems on the continent.
Listen
Burundi
Tanzania
