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 |
| 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,
Confiant dans l'avenir, regarde ton drapeau!
Dans le vert tu liras l'espoir du renouveau,
De tes aïeux le rouge évoque le courage;
Des plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage.
[Refrain]
Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure,
Cher Bénin, partout font ta vive 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 yellow heralds the richest treasures.
[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,
Te bâtiront dans le bonheur.
[Refrain]
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.
Translation
Hail, O land of hope,
Country of hospitality.
Your legions filled with valour
Have restored your dignity.
Your sons, dear Côte d'Ivoire,
Proud craftsmen of your greatness,
All gathered for your glory,
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, united in the new faith,
The homeland of true brotherhood.
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 Bight of Benin, the bay on its coast, which is itself named after the historical Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria, a different state from the Kingdom of Dahomey that had given the country its former name.
- 3. The first verse recalls the ancestors who fought with courage at the price of their blood, and the second explains the colours of the flag: green for the hope of renewal, red for the ancestors' courage, yellow for the richest of treasures.
Ivory Coast
- 1. Côte d'Ivoire's official guide to the national symbols credits the words to Abbé Pierre Marie Coty and the music to Abbé Pierre Michel Pango, two Catholic priests. Other references also name the politician Mathieu Ekra as co-author of the lyrics, and some add Joachim Bony
- 2. The second line hails Côte d'Ivoire as the 'pays de l'hospitalité' (country of hospitality), and the official guide lists hospitality among the values the anthem urges on Ivorians, with unity, solidarity and peace
- 3. Despite two civil wars (2002-2007 and 2010-2011), L'Abidjanaise remained the national anthem, and article 48 of the 2016 constitution names it the anthem of the Republic
- 4. The same official guide calls the anthem 'la carte d'identité sonore de la République', the Republic's identity card in sound
Listen
Benin
Ivory Coast
