National Anthem Comparison
Egypt vs Libya
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
23
23 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Egypt and Libya, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Egypt's "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" was written in 1978, while Libya's "Libya, Libya, Libya" dates to 1955.
Both anthems share themes of Freedom, God / Faith and Ancestors / Heritage. Egypt additionally explores Love of homeland and Nature, while Libya also touches on Battle / War and Unity.
The emotional tones differ: Egypt's anthem is Proud, while Libya's is Defiant.
Egypt changed its national anthem in 1979, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Egypt
❤ Love of homeland 🕊 Freedom ✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Libya
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War ✝ God / Faith 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🤝 Unity
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom ✝ God / Faith 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Metadata
| Egypt | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1978 | 1955 |
| Adopted | 1979 | 2011 |
| Lyricist | Mohamed Yunis al-Qadi (original poem by Sayed Darwish) | Al Bashir al-Arebi |
| Composer | Sayed Darwish | Mohammed Abdel Wahab |
| Language | ar | ar |
| Region | North Africa | North Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Egypt
بلادي بلادي بلادي
Original
بِلادي بِلادي بِلادي
لكِ حُبّي وفُؤادي
مِصر يا أُمّ البِلاد
أنتِ غايتي والمُراد
وعلى كُلّ العِباد
كم لِنيلكِ من أيادي
بِلادي بِلادي بِلادي
لكِ حُبّي وفُؤادي
مِصر أنتِ أغلى دُرّة
فوق جبين الدّهر غُرّة
يا بِلادي عيشي حُرّة
واسلمي رغم الأعادي
بِلادي بِلادي بِلادي
لكِ حُبّي وفُؤادي
مِصر يا أرض النّعيم
سُدّت بالمجد القديم
مقصدي دفع الغريم
وعلى الله اعتمادي
بِلادي بِلادي بِلادي
لكِ حُبّي وفُؤادي
Translation
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
Egypt! O mother of all lands,
You are my hope and my ambition,
And for all people
How many are the blessings of your Nile.
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
Egypt, you are the most precious jewel,
A shining star upon the brow of time.
O my homeland, live free,
And prosper despite all foes.
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
Egypt, O land of bliss,
Fortified with ancient glory,
My goal is to repel the enemy,
And upon God is my reliance.
My homeland, my homeland, my homeland,
My love and my heart are for thee.
Libya
ليبيا ليبيا ليبيا
Original
يا بلادي يا بلادي
بجهادي وجلادي
ادفعي كيد الأعادي
والعوادي
وأسلمي مع سلامة
لا تعيشي إلا حرة
وعلى العدو مدمرة
ليبيا ليبيا ليبيا
يا بلادي أنت ميراث الجدود
لا يحل فيك إلا السعود
نحن بالتوحيد درع وسنود
والعماد
إنما اللاءات لاءاتي أنا
وبنوك في الوغى أسود
يا بلادي يا بلادي
يا بلادي سيري بعون الله سيري
إنه خير مؤيد للمسير
وهو خير سند لكل كبير
وهو ذخر
لا تخافي إنه قلب الزمان
ونحن لن نرد إلا انتصار
ليبيا ليبيا ليبيا
Translation
O my country, O my country,
With my struggle and my patience,
Repel the plots of the enemies
And the calamities.
Be safe and secure,
Live only free,
And upon the enemy be destructive.
Libya, Libya, Libya.
O my country, you are the legacy of our forefathers,
None shall dwell in you but the fortunate.
We are, by our unity, a shield and a support
And a pillar.
Indeed my refusals are my own,
And your sons in battle are lions.
O my country, O my country.
O my country, march on with God's support, march on,
He is the best helper for the journey.
And He is the best support for every great endeavor
And a treasure.
Fear not, for He is the heart of time,
And we shall accept nothing but victory.
Libya, Libya, Libya.
Interesting facts
Egypt
- 1. The melody predates its use as an anthem by decades; Sayed Darwish originally composed it around 1920 as a popular patriotic song, and it circulated widely before being elevated to official status in 1979.
- 2. The lyrics are based on a famous 1907 speech by nationalist leader Mustafa Kamil, making Egypt's anthem one of very few derived from a political speech rather than a purpose-written poem.
- 3. Egypt's anthem is notably gentle compared to its neighbors; it contains no references to war, enemies, or military struggle, focusing entirely on love of the homeland and the Nile.
Libya
- 1. Mohammed Abdel Wahab composed the anthems of four Arab countries (Libya, UAE, Tunisia, and contributed to others), earning him the unofficial title of the Arab world's anthem composer.
- 2. Gaddafi's replacement anthem 'Allahu Akbar' was originally an Egyptian military march from the 1956 Suez Crisis, which Gaddafi repurposed without Egypt's consent.
- 3. The restored anthem had to be re-recorded from scratch in 2011 because no official orchestral recording had survived the 42 years of suppression under Gaddafi's rule.
Listen
Egypt
Libya
