National Anthem Comparison
Republic of the Congo vs Gabon
2
Shared themes
✓
Same mood
1
1 years apart
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Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Republic of the Congo and Gabon, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Republic of the Congo's "The Congolese" was written in 1959, while Gabon's "The Concord" dates to 1960.
Both anthems share themes of unity and hope. Republic of the Congo additionally explores freedom and nature, while Gabon also touches on peace and ancestors / heritage.
Both anthems carry a proud tone, creating a similar emotional register despite their geographic distance.
Republic of the Congo changed its national anthem in 1991, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Republic of the Congo
🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature 🌅 Hope
Gabon
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace 🌅 Hope 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope
Metadata
| Republic of the Congo | Gabon | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1959 | 1960 |
| Adopted | 1959 | 1960 |
| Lyricist | Jacques Tondra / Georges Kibanghi | Georges Aleka Damas |
| Composer | Jean Royer / Joseph Spadiliere | Georges Aleka Damas |
| Language | fr | fr |
| Region | Central Africa | Central Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Republic of the Congo
La Congolaise
Original
En ce jour le soleil se lève
Et notre Congo resplendit.
Une longue nuit s'achève,
Un grand bonheur a surgi.
Chantons tous avec ivresse
Le chant de la liberté.
[Chorus]
Congolais, debout fièrement partout,
Proclamons l'union de notre nation,
Oublions ce qui nous divise,
Soyons plus unis que jamais.
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Des forêts jusqu'à la savane,
Des savanes jusqu'à la mer,
Un seul peuple, une seule âme,
Un seul cœur, ardent et fier,
Luttons tous, tant que nous sommes,
Pour notre vieux pays noir.
[Chorus]
Congolais, debout fièrement partout,
Proclamons l'union de notre nation,
Oublions ce qui nous divise,
Soyons plus unis que jamais.
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Et s'il nous faut mourir, en somme
Qu'importe puisque nos enfants,
Partout, pourront dire comme
On triomphe en combattant,
Et dans le moindre village
Chantent sous nos trois couleurs.
[Chorus]
Congolais, debout fièrement partout,
Proclamons l'union de notre nation,
Oublions ce qui nous divise,
Soyons plus unis que jamais.
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Vivons pour notre devise:
Unité, travail, progrès!
Translation
On this day the sun rises
And our Congo shines forth.
A long night has ended,
A great happiness has arrived.
Let us all sing with rapture
The song of liberty.
[Chorus]
Congolese, stand up proudly everywhere,
Let us proclaim the union of our nation.
Let us forget what divides us,
Let us be more united than ever.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
From the forests to the savanna,
From the savannas to the sea,
One people, one soul,
One heart, ardent and proud,
Let us all fight, every one of us,
For our old black country.
[Chorus]
Congolese, stand up proudly everywhere,
Let us proclaim the union of our nation.
Let us forget what divides us,
Let us be more united than ever.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
And if we must die, in the end,
What does it matter, since our children
Everywhere will be able to tell
How victory is won by fighting,
And in the smallest village
They sing beneath our three colours.
[Chorus]
Congolese, stand up proudly everywhere,
Let us proclaim the union of our nation.
Let us forget what divides us,
Let us be more united than ever.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
Let us live by our motto:
Unity, work, progress.
Gabon
La Concorde
Original
[Chorus]
Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité,
Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
Éblouissant et fier, le jour sublime monte,
Pourchassant à jamais l'injustice et la honte.
Qu'il monte, monte encore et calme nos alarmes,
Qu'il prône la vertu et repousse les armes.
[Chorus]
Oui que le temps heureux rêvé par nos ancêtres
Arrive enfin chez nous, réjouisse les êtres,
Et chasse les sorciers, ces perfides trompeurs.
Qui sèment le poison et répandent la peur.
[Chorus]
Afin qu'aux yeux du monde et des nations amies,
Le Gabon immortel reste digne d'envie,
Oublions nos querelles, ensemble bâtissons
L'édifice nouveau auquel tous nous rêvons.
[Chorus]
Des bords de l'Océan au cœur de la forêt,
Demeurons vigilants, sans faiblesse et sans haine!
Autour de ce drapeau, qui vers l'honneur nous mène,
Saluons la Patrie et chantons sans arrêt
[Chorus]
Translation
[Chorus]
United in concord and brotherhood,
Awake, Gabon, a dawn is rising,
Encourage the ardor that thrills and uplifts us!
At last we rise toward happiness.
At last we rise toward happiness.
Dazzling and proud, the sublime day ascends,
Driving away injustice and shame forever.
Let it rise, rise ever higher and calm our fears,
Let it champion virtue and drive weapons away.
[Chorus]
Yes, may the happy time our ancestors dreamed of
Arrive among us at last, bringing joy to all beings,
And chase away the sorcerers, those treacherous deceivers
Who sow poison and spread fear.
[Chorus]
So that in the eyes of the world and of friendly nations
Immortal Gabon may remain worthy of envy,
Let us forget our quarrels, together let us build
The new edifice of which we all dream.
[Chorus]
From the shores of the Ocean to the heart of the forest,
Let us stay vigilant, without weakness and without hatred!
Around this flag, which leads us toward honor,
Let us salute the Fatherland and sing without end.
[Chorus]
Interesting facts
Republic of the Congo
- 1. The replacement anthem 'Les Trois Glorieuses' (The Three Glorious Days) was named after the uprising of 13 to 15 August 1963 that overthrew the first president, Fulbert Youlou. Its words were written by Henri Lopes, the writer who later served as prime minister from 1973 to 1975.
- 2. La Congolaise was written before independence: the words by Jacques Tondra, a Frenchman, and Georges Kibanghi, a Congolese, and the music by Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière.
- 3. La Congolaise beat a rival song, 'Allons Congo' by the Europeans Jo Noves and Stéphane May, by 44 votes to 9 in the National Assembly, and was adopted by constitutional law no. 10 of 21 November 1959.
- 4. Its refrain sets the national motto to music: 'Vivons pour notre devise: Unité, travail, progrès!' (Let us live for our motto: Unity, work, progress!).
- 5. Brazzaville, the capital, faces Kinshasa (DR Congo's capital) across the Congo River; apart from Rome and Vatican City, they are the closest pair of national capitals in the world.
Gabon
- 1. Georges Aleka Damas wrote both the lyrics and the music. He was also a politician: from 1964 to 1975 he presided over Gabon's National Assembly
- 2. In 1985, three years after his death, Gabon issued a postage stamp bearing his portrait alongside the score of 'La Concorde'
- 3. On 17 August 2026, the 66th anniversary of independence, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema inaugurated a monument to Damas on the Libreville seafront, facing the official stand; the building bears the anthem's name, 'La Concorde'
Listen
Republic of the Congo
Gabon
