National Anthem Comparison
Djibouti vs Eritrea
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
16
16 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Djibouti and Eritrea, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Djibouti's "Djibouti" was written in 1977, while Eritrea's "Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea" dates to 1993.
Both anthems share themes of independence and resilience. Djibouti additionally explores unity, flag and peace, while Eritrea also touches on battle / war, freedom and ancestors / heritage.
The emotional tones differ: Djibouti's anthem is proud, while Eritrea's is defiant.
Shared themes
Djibouti
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 🚩 Flag 💪 Resilience ☮ Peace
Eritrea
🗽 Independence 💪 Resilience ⚔ Battle / War 🕊 Freedom 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Shared themes:
🗽 Independence 💪 Resilience
Metadata
| Djibouti | Eritrea | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1977 | 1993 |
| Adopted | 1977 | 1993 |
| Lyricist | Aden Elmi | Solomon Tsehaye Beraki |
| Composer | Abdi Robleh | Isaac Abraham Meharezghi / Aron Tekie Tesfatsion |
| Language | so | ti |
| Region | East Africa | East Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Djibouti
Djibouti
Original
Hinjinne u sara kaca
Calankaan harraad iyo
Haydaar u mudateen!
Hir cagaarku qariyayiyo
Habkay samadu tahayoo
Xiddig dhi igleh hoorshoo
Caddaan lagu hadheeyaay.
Maxaa haybad kugu yaal.
Maxaa haybad kugu yaal.
Translation
Rise up with strength for this flag,
For which you endured thirst
And hardship!
Its expanse clothed in green
And in the colour of the sky,
It bears a blood-red star
Set against white.
What majesty is in you!
What majesty is in you!
Eritrea
ኤርትራ ኤርትራ ኤርትራ
Original
𝄆 ኤርትራ ኤርትራ ኤርትራ፡
ብዓል ደማ እናልቀሰ ተደምሲሱ፡
መስዋእታ ብሓርነት ተደቢሱ። 𝄇
መዋእል ነኺሳ ኣብ ዕላማ፡
ትእምርቲ ጽንዓት ኰይኑ ስማ፡
ኤርትራ'ዛ ሓበን ውጹዓት፡
ኣመስኪራ ሓቂ ከምእትዕወት።
ኤርትራ ኤርትራ፡
ኣብ ዓለም ጨቢጣቶ ግቡእ ክብራ።
ናጽነት ዘምጽአ ልዑል ኒሕ፡
ንህንጻ ንልምዓት ክሰርሕ፡
ስልጣነ ከነልብሳ ግርማ፡
ሕድሪ'ለና ግምጃ ክንስልማ።
𝄆 ኤርትራ ኤርትራ፡
ኣብ ዓለም ጨቢጣቶ ግቡእ ክብራ። 𝄇
Translation
𝄆 Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea,
Her blood foe, wailing, has been crushed,
Her sacrifice repaid with freedom. 𝄇
Holding fast to her aim through the long years,
Her name became a symbol of steadfastness;
Eritrea, the pride of the oppressed,
Has borne witness that truth prevails.
Eritrea, Eritrea,
Has claimed her rightful honour in the world.
The lofty resolve that brought independence
Shall labour for building and development;
To clothe her in the splendour of civilization,
To adorn her in brocade, is the trust we hold.
𝄆 Eritrea, Eritrea,
Has claimed her rightful honour in the world. 𝄇
Interesting facts
Djibouti
- 1. Djibouti was one of the last African countries to gain independence, in 1977, when most of Africa had already been independent for over a decade
- 2. The anthem is in the Somali language, though Djibouti is also home to a large Afar-speaking population
- 3. Despite its tiny size (about the area of New Jersey), Djibouti hosts military bases from the United States, France, China, Japan, and Italy
Eritrea
- 1. Eritrea's independence war lasted 30 years (1961-1991), one of the longest in African history, and the anthem's tone reflects this prolonged struggle
- 2. The anthem is in Tigrinya, which is spoken by about 55% of Eritreans, though the country has nine recognized ethnic languages
- 3. Before winning independence, Eritrea had been federated with Ethiopia in 1952 and then annexed by it in 1962
- 4. Eritrean radio and television stations play the anthem when they begin broadcasting in the morning and when they sign off at night, and schools sing it as the flag is raised and lowered
Listen
Djibouti
Eritrea
