National Anthem Comparison
Democratic Republic of the Congo vs Rwanda
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
41
41 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Democratic Republic of the Congo's "Stand Up, Congolese" was written in 1960, while Rwanda's "Beautiful Rwanda" dates to 2001.
Both anthems share themes of unity, peace and god / faith. Democratic Republic of the Congo additionally explores independence and ancestors / heritage, while Rwanda also touches on nature and hope.
The emotional tones differ: Democratic Republic of the Congo's anthem is proud, while Rwanda's is hopeful.
Democratic Republic of the Congo's anthem predates Rwanda's by 41 years, having been written in 1960 compared to 2001.
Democratic Republic of the Congo changed its national anthem in 1997, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Democratic Republic of the Congo
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity ☮ Peace ✝ God / Faith 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Rwanda
🤝 Unity 🌿 Nature 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace ✝ God / Faith
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace ✝ God / Faith
Metadata
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1960 | 2001 |
| Adopted | 1960 | 2002 |
| Lyricist | Joseph Lutumba | Faustin Murigo |
| Composer | Simon-Pierre Boka di Mpasi Londi | Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana |
| Language | fr | rw |
| Region | Central Africa | East Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Debout Congolais
Original
Debout Congolais,
Unis par le sort,
Unis dans l'effort pour l'indépendance.
Dressons nos fronts, longtemps courbés
Et pour de bon prenons le plus bel élan,
Dans la paix.
Ô peuple ardent
Par le labeur
Nous bâtirons un pays plus beau qu'avant
Dans la paix.
Citoyens,
Entonnez l'hymne sacré de votre solidarité
Fièrement
Saluez l'emblème d'or de votre souveraineté
Congo,
Don béni, Congo !
Des aïeux, Congo !
Ô pays, Congo !
Bien-aimé, Congo !
Nous peuplerons ton sol
Et nous assurerons ta grandeur.
Trente juin, ô doux soleil
Trente juin, du trente juin
Jour sacré, sois le témoin,
Jour sacré de l'immortel
Serment de liberté
Que nous léguons
À notre postérité
Pour toujours
Translation
Stand up, Congolese,
United by fate,
United in the effort for independence.
Let us raise our heads, so long bowed,
And, once and for all, take the finest leap forward,
In peace.
O ardent people,
Through labor
We will build a country more beautiful than before,
In peace.
Citizens,
Strike up the sacred hymn of your solidarity,
Proudly
Salute the golden emblem of your sovereignty.
Congo,
Blessed gift, Congo!
Of the forefathers, Congo!
O country, Congo!
Beloved, Congo!
We will people your soil
And we will secure your greatness.
Thirtieth of June, O gentle sun,
Thirtieth of June, of the thirtieth of June,
Sacred day, be the witness,
Sacred day of the immortal
Oath of freedom
That we bequeath
To our posterity
Forever.
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
Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 1. La Zaïroise, the anthem used from 1971 to 1997, had the same two authors as Debout Congolais: Joseph Lutumba and the Jesuit Simon-Pierre Boka di Mpasi Londi.
- 2. Most references, among them the CIA World Factbook, credit Joseph Lutumba with the words and Simon-Pierre Boka with the music; the website of the DRC presidency gives the two roles the other way round.
- 3. The refrain is written for soloists and choir: the choir answers the soloists with the words 'Congo', 'Trente juin' (30 June, the day of independence) and 'Jour sacré' (sacred day).
- 4. The DR Congo is Africa's largest francophone country by population, and the anthem is sung in French, though over 200 local languages are spoken across its territory.
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
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
