National Anthem Comparison
Fiji vs Papua New Guinea
4
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
5
5 years apart
✓
Same continent
Fiji
God Bless Fiji
Papua New Guinea
O Arise, All You Sons
Comparison Analysis
Fiji and Papua New Guinea, both Oceania nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Fiji's "God Bless Fiji" was written in 1970, while Papua New Guinea's "O Arise, All You Sons" dates to 1975.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith, nature, unity and freedom. Fiji additionally explores hope, while Papua New Guinea also touches on peace.
The emotional tones differ: Fiji's anthem is prayerful, while Papua New Guinea's is joyful.
Shared themes
Fiji
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature 🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope 🕊 Freedom
Papua New Guinea
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature ☮ Peace
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature 🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Fiji | Papua New Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1970 | 1975 |
| Adopted | 1970 | 1975 |
| Lyricist | Michael Francis Alexander Prescott | Thomas Shacklady |
| Composer | Charles Austin Miles (1911 hymn melody), arranged by Michael Francis Alexander Prescott | Thomas Shacklady |
| Language | en | en |
| Region | Melanesia | Melanesia |
Lyrics Side by Side
Fiji
God Bless Fiji
Original
Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together, God bless Fiji.
[Chorus]
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whatever befall
May God bless Fiji forever more!
Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together, God bless Fiji.
[Chorus]
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whatever befall
May God bless Fiji forever more!
Papua New Guinea
O Arise, All You Sons
Original
O arise, all you sons of this land,
Let us sing of our joy to be free,
Praising God and rejoicing to be
Papua New Guinea.
[Chorus]
Shout our name from the mountains to the seas,
Papua New Guinea;
Let us raise our voices and proclaim
Papua New Guinea.
Now give thanks to the good Lord above
For His kindness, His wisdom and love
For this land of our fathers so free,
Papua New Guinea.
[Chorus]
Shout again for the whole world to hear,
Papua New Guinea;
We're independent and we're free,
Papua New Guinea.
Interesting facts
Fiji
- 1. The English text has two verses, each followed by the chorus. The Fijian version, 'Meda Dau Doka', is not a translation of it: the two texts have very little in common, and the English version is the one usually sung
- 2. In 2008 the draft People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, meant to ease the country's ethnic and linguistic divides, proposed that the anthem be sung in Fiji's three main languages; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now publishes it in English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi
- 3. The country went through four coups between 1987 and 2006, and 'God Bless Fiji' remained the national anthem through all of them
Papua New Guinea
- 1. Papua New Guinea has more than 840 living languages, yet its anthem is written in English.
- 2. The two choruses differ: the first calls for the country's name to be shouted from the mountains to the seas, the second proclaims to the whole world that the nation is independent and free.
- 3. Every verse and every chorus ends with the words "Papua New Guinea", which appear six times in the anthem.
Listen
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
