National Anthem Comparison
Ethiopia vs Somalia
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
33
33 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Ethiopia and Somalia, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Ethiopia's "March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia" was written in 1992, while Somalia's "Every Nation Has Its Own Flag" dates to 1959.
Both anthems share themes of unity and peace. Ethiopia additionally explores diversity, freedom and love of homeland, while Somalia also touches on flag and resilience.
The emotional tones differ: Ethiopia's anthem is hopeful, while Somalia's is proud.
Somalia's anthem predates Ethiopia's by 33 years, having been written in 1959 compared to 1992.
Ethiopia changed its national anthem in 1992, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Ethiopia
🤝 Unity 🌈 Diversity ☮ Peace 🕊 Freedom ❤ Love of homeland
Somalia
🚩 Flag 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace
Metadata
| Ethiopia | Somalia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1992 | 1959 |
| Adopted | 1992 | 2012 |
| Lyricist | Dereje Melaku Mengesha | Abdullahi Qarshe (government credit; Hussein Aw Farah in other sources) |
| Composer | Solomon Lulu Mitiku | Abdullahi Qarshe |
| Language | am | so |
| Region | East Africa | East Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Ethiopia
ወደፊት ገስግሺ ውድ እናት ኢትዮጵያ
Original
የዜግነት ክብር በኢትዮጵያችን ፀንቶ፣
ታየ ሕዝባዊነት ዳር እስከዳር በርቶ!
ለሰላም፣ ለፍትህ፣ ለሕዝቦች ነፃነት፣
በእኩልነት፣ በፍቅር፣ ቆመናል በአንድነት፤
መሠረተ ፅኑ፣ ሰብዕናን ያልሻርን፣
ሕዝቦች ነን፣ ለሥራ፣ በሥራ የኖርን!
ድንቅ የባህል መድረክ፣ የአኩሪ ቅርስ ባለቤት፣
የተፈጥሮ ፀጋ፣ የጀግና ሕዝብ እናት፤
እንጠብቅሻለን፣ አለብን አደራ፣
ኢትዮጵያችን ኑሪ፤ እኛም ባንቺ እንኩራ!
Translation
Respect for citizenship is strong in our Ethiopia;
The spirit of the people is seen shining from end to end!
For peace, for justice, for the freedom of peoples,
In equality and in love we stand united;
Firm of foundation, never forsaking our humanity,
We are peoples who have lived for work and by work!
Wondrous stage of culture, owner of a proud heritage,
Rich in nature's gifts, mother of a heroic people;
We shall protect you, this trust is laid upon us:
Our Ethiopia, live on! And let us be proud of you!
Somalia
Qolobaa Calankeed
Original
Chorus:
(𝄆) Qolobaa calankeedu,
waa ceynoo, (𝄇)
Innaga keenu waa,
Cirkoo kala ee,
aan caadna lahayn,
Ee caashaqaye.
I
(𝄆) Xiddigyahay caddi waad,
Naa ciidamisee, (𝄇)
Carradaa keligaa
adow curadee,
cadceedda sideeda,
caan noqo ee!
Chorus
II
(𝄆) Cashadaad dhalataa
caloosheennee, (𝄇)
Sidii culaygii
cidaad marisee,
Allow ha ku celin,
"Cawooy!" dhahe ee
Chorus
III
(𝄆) Shanteena cududood
Cadkii ka maqnaa (𝄇)
Adow celiyow
Nacaawimayee
Waa calaf cimrigu
Isku keen simayee
Translation
[Chorus]
(𝄆) Every nation's flag
has its own colour, (𝄇)
and ours
is like the sky,
without a single cloud,
and we love it dearly.
I
(𝄆) O white star,
you have rallied us, (𝄇)
in this land you alone
are the foremost;
like the sun,
become renowned!
[Chorus]
II
(𝄆) On the day you were born,
our hearts (𝄇)
you cleansed
like purifying incense.
O God, never take it back;
let us cry: "O good fortune!"
[Chorus]
III
(𝄆) The piece that was missing
from our five arms, (𝄇)
it is you who bring it back
and who help us;
it is life's destiny
that has brought us together as one.
Interesting facts
Ethiopia
- 1. The anthem is sung in Amharic, the working language of the federal government, but a 2010 proclamation allows each regional state to perform it in a translation into its own official language, to the same music, once the state council has approved it.
- 2. Ethiopia's imperial anthem, 'Ityopya Hoy Dess Yibelish' ('Ethiopia, Be Happy'), was composed in 1926 by Kevork Nalbandian, an Armenian living in Ethiopia; it was first performed at Haile Selassie's coronation on 2 November 1930 and stayed in use until 1975, after the fall of the monarchy.
- 3. The anthem is older than the 1995 constitution, which requires the national anthem to reflect the ideals of the Constitution and the commitment of Ethiopia's peoples to live together in a democratic order; Proclamation No. 673/2010 then set its words and music down in law.
- 4. Under the same proclamation, using the anthem in commercial advertising is punishable by simple imprisonment or a fine, and broadcasters reaching more than one regional state must play it at the opening and close of their transmissions.
Somalia
- 1. Somalia's previous anthem 'Soomaaliyeey Toosoo' (Somalia Wake Up), a popular song from the 1940s that was sung at the independence celebrations of 1960, was the national anthem from 2000 until it was replaced in 2012
- 2. The anthem addresses the white star of the Somali flag, whose five points stand for the five regions of the Horn of Africa where Somalis historically live
- 3. Somalia has one of the most ethnically homogeneous populations in Africa, with most citizens sharing the Somali language and culture
Listen
Ethiopia
Somalia
