National Anthem Comparison
Benin vs Ivory Coast
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
0
0 years apart
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Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Benin and Ivory Coast, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Benin's "The New Dawn" was written in 1960, while Ivory Coast's "The Song of Abidjan" dates to 1960.
Both anthems share themes of Freedom, Unity and Hope. Benin additionally explores Ancestors / Heritage and Flag, while Ivory Coast also touches on Peace and Love of homeland.
The emotional tones differ: Benin's anthem is Hopeful, while Ivory Coast's is Proud.
Shared themes
Benin
🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🚩 Flag
Ivory Coast
🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope
Metadata
| Benin | Ivory Coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1960 | 1960 |
| Adopted | 1960 | 1960 |
| Lyricist | Gilbert Jean Dagnon | Mathieu Ekra / Joachim Bony / Pierre Marie Coty |
| Composer | Gilbert Jean Dagnon | Pierre Michel Pango / Pierre Marie Coty |
| Language | fr | fr |
| Region | West Africa | West Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Benin
L'Aube Nouvelle
Original
[Refrain]
Enfants du Bénin, debout!
La liberté d'un cri sonore
Chante aux premiers feux de l'aurore;
Enfants du Bénin, debout!
Jadis à son appel, nos aïeux sans faiblesse
Ont su avec courage, ardeur, pleins d'allégresse
Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants.
Accourez vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent,
Plus forts dans l'unité, chaque jour à la tâche,
Pour la postérité, construisez sans relâche.
[Refrain]
Quand partout souffle un vent de colère et de haine,
Béninois, sois fier, et d'une âme sereine,
Confiants dans l'avenir, regarde ton drapeau!
Dans le vert tu liras l'espoir du renouveau,
Le rouge évoque le courage de tes aïeux;
Les plus riches trésors te font briller les yeux.
[Refrain]
Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure,
Cher Bénin, partout font ta vivante parure.
Ton sol offre à chacun la richesse des fruits.
Bénin, désormais que tes fils tous unis
D'un fraternel élan partagent l'espérance
De te voir à jamais heureux dans l'abondance.
[Refrain]
Translation
[Chorus]
Children of Benin, arise!
Freedom with a resounding cry
Sings at the first light of dawn;
Children of Benin, arise!
Formerly, at her call, our ancestors without weakness
Knew with courage, ardor, full of joy,
To wage at the cost of blood brilliant battles.
Come also you, builders of the present,
Stronger in unity, each day at the task,
For posterity, build without ceasing.
[Chorus]
When all around a wind of anger and of hatred blows,
Beninese, be proud, and with a serene soul,
Confident in the future, behold your flag!
In the green you shall read the hope of renewal,
The red evokes the courage of your ancestors;
The richest treasures make your eyes sparkle.
[Chorus]
Your sunlit mountains, your palm trees, your greenery,
Dear Benin, everywhere are your living adornment.
Your soil offers to all the richness of its fruits.
Benin, from now on may your sons all united
With a brotherly spirit share the hope
Of seeing you forever happy in abundance.
[Chorus]
Ivory Coast
L'Abidjanaise
Original
Salut ô terre d'espérance,
Pays de l'hospitalité.
Tes légions remplies de vaillance
Ont relevé ta dignité.
Tes fils, chère Côte d'Ivoire,
Fiers artisans de ta grandeur,
Tous rassemblés pour ta gloire,
Dans la paix te bâtiront dans le bonheur.
[Chorus]
Fiers Ivoiriens, le pays nous appelle.
Si nous avons dans la paix ramené la liberté,
Notre devoir sera d'être un modèle
De l'espérance promise à l'humanité,
En forgeant, unis dans la foi nouvelle,
La patrie de la vraie fraternité.
Salut ô terre d'espérance,
Pays de l'hospitalité.
Tes légions remplies de vaillance
Ont relevé ta dignité.
Tes fils, chère Côte d'Ivoire,
Fiers artisans de ta grandeur,
Tous rassemblés pour ta gloire,
Te bâtiront pour ta gloire,
Dans la paix, dans la dignité.
Translation
Hail, O land of hope,
Country of hospitality.
Your legions filled with valiance
Have restored your dignity.
Your sons, dear Cote d'Ivoire,
Proud builders of your greatness,
All gathered for your glory,
In peace shall build you in happiness.
[Chorus]
Proud Ivorians, the country calls us.
If we have in peace brought back liberty,
Our duty shall be to serve as a model
Of the hope promised to humanity,
Forging together, united in new faith,
The fatherland of true brotherhood.
Hail, O land of hope,
Country of hospitality.
Your legions filled with valiance
Have restored your dignity.
Your sons, dear Cote d'Ivoire,
Proud builders of your greatness,
All gathered for your glory,
Shall build you for your glory,
In peace, in dignity.
Interesting facts
Benin
- 1. The anthem is performed in French, even though the majority of Benin's population speaks Fon, Yoruba, or other local languages as their first language.
- 2. Benin took its new name from the historical Kingdom of Benin (Dahomey), though the ancient kingdom was actually located in what is now Nigeria, not modern Benin.
- 3. The anthem's martial tone and references to ancestors echo the legacy of the Dahomey Amazons, the famous all-female warrior regiment that defended the Kingdom of Dahomey.
Ivory Coast
- 1. Named after the city of Abidjan rather than the country, making it one of the few national anthems named after a city
- 2. The anthem emphasizes hospitality, which reflects the Ivorian national identity; 'pays de l'hospitalite' (country of hospitality) is a common phrase associated with the nation
- 3. Despite two civil wars (2002-2007 and 2010-2011), the anthem remained unchanged, its message of peace and unity taking on deeper significance
Listen
Benin
Ivory Coast
