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 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.
Tanzania
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Original
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Wabariki viongozi wake
Hekima, umoja na amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
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.
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.
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.
Tanzania
- 1. The whole text is a prayer: it asks God to bless Africa and its leaders, then Tanzania and its people, and never mentions war or enemies. Tanzania's National Examinations Council describes the anthem as a prayer for the nation and for Africa as a whole.
- 2. Tanganyika was the first African country to adopt 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' as its national anthem, in 1961. The hymn is now also part of South Africa's anthem and is used, with different words, by Zambia.
- 3. The anthem outlived the country that adopted it: Tanganyika chose it in 1961, and after the 1964 union with Zanzibar the new Tanzania kept it, with 'Tanzania' now sung where the words once named Tanganyika.
Listen
Burundi
Tanzania
