National Anthem Comparison
Comoros vs Mauritius
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
10
10 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Comoros and Mauritius, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Comoros's "The Union of the Islands" was written in 1978, while Mauritius's "Motherland" dates to 1968.
Both anthems share themes of Unity, God / Faith and Freedom. Comoros additionally explores Flag and Independence, while Mauritius also touches on Peace and Love of homeland.
The emotional tones differ: Comoros's anthem is Solemn, while Mauritius's is Hopeful.
Shared themes
Comoros
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🚩 Flag 🗽 Independence
Mauritius
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Comoros | Mauritius | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1978 | 1968 |
| Adopted | 1978 | 1968 |
| Lyricist | Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane | Jean Georges Prosper |
| Composer | Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane and Kamildine Abdallah | Philippe Gentil |
| Language | swb | en |
| Region | East Africa | East Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Comoros
Umodja wa Massiwa
Original
Beramu isi pepeza
I nadi ukombozi piya
Ye daula ivenuha
Hasibabu yahe dini voya tsangaya hunu Komoriya
Narikeni yamahaba ya huvendza ya masiwa yatru
Wasiwa Komoro damu ndzima
Wasiwa Komoro dini ndzima
Ya masiwa razaliwa
Ya masiwa yarileya
Mola nde yari sayidiya
Narike niya ndzima
Rivendze uwatwaniya
Mahaba ya dini na duniya.
Beramu isi pepeza
Rangu mwezi sita wa Juiye
Ye daula ivenuha
Zisiwa zatru zi katruha
Maoré na Ndzuani, Mwali na Ngazidja
Narikeni yamahaba ya huvendza ya masiwa.
Translation
The flag is flying,
Announcing total independence;
The nation rises up
Because of the faith we have in our Comoros.
Let us always have devotion to love our Great Islands.
We Comorians are of one blood,
We Comorians are of one faith.
On these islands we were born,
These islands brought us up.
May God always help us;
Let us always have the firm resolve
To love our fatherland,
Love our religion and the world.
The flag is flying.
From the Sixth of July
The nation rises up;
Our islands are lined up.
Maore and Ndzuani, Mwali and Ngazidja,
Let us always have devotion to love our Great Islands.
Mauritius
Motherland
Original
Glory to thee, Motherland,
O motherland of mine.
Sweet is thy beauty,
Sweet is thy fragrance,
Around thee we gather
As one people,
As one nation,
In peace, justice and liberty.
Beloved country,
May God bless thee
For ever and ever.
Translation
Glory to thee, Motherland,
O motherland of mine.
Sweet is thy beauty,
Sweet is thy fragrance,
Around thee we gather
As one people,
As one nation,
In peace, justice and liberty.
Beloved country,
May God bless thee
For ever and ever.
Interesting facts
Comoros
- 1. The Constitution of the Union of the Comoros, in Article 9, names the anthem Umodja wa Massiwa and lists Shikomori, French and Arabic as the three official languages of the republic.
- 2. Lyricist Said Hachim Sidi Abderemane co-composed the melody with Kamildine Abdallah, an attribution confirmed by W. L. Reed and M. J. Bristow's National Anthems of the World (1985).
- 3. The anthem replaced Ungwana, also known as Comor Masiwa Mane (Four Comorian Islands), which had been adopted in 1976 under Ali Soilih after a competition won by writer and musician Abou Chihabi.
- 4. The spelling of the title has shifted with each constitution: Ouzima wa Massiwa in 1978, Udzima wa Masiwa in 1992, Umodja wa Masiwa in 2001, and the current Umodja wa Massiwa from the 2009 and 2013 revisions.
Mauritius
- 1. Philippe Gentil, the composer, was a Catholic priest and music teacher, which gives the melody a hymn-like quality with organ-friendly harmonies.
- 2. Mauritius is the only African country where Hinduism is the most practiced religion, yet the anthem uses no religious references, deliberately keeping it secular for the multi-faith population.
- 3. The anthem was chosen from entries in a pre-independence competition, and Jean Georges Prosper later became one of Mauritius' most celebrated poets, writing extensively in both English and Creole.
Listen
Comoros
Mauritius
