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.
Comoros changed its national anthem in 1978, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
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 religion that unites us here in Comoros.
Let us always have devotion to love our islands.
We Comorians are of one blood,
We Comorians are of one faith.
On these islands we were born,
These islands brought us up.
It is God who helped 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 have become free.
Maore and Ndzuani, Mwali and Ngazidja,
Let us always have devotion to love the 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.
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 under Ali Soilih after a competition won by writer and musician Abou Chihabi; the Fundamental Law of 23 April 1977 names Comor Masiwa Mane as the national anthem.
- 4. The spelling of the title has varied between constitutional texts: Ouzima wa Massiwa in 1978, Udzima wa Masiwa in 1992 and 1996, and Umodja wa Massiwa since the 2001 constitution, a spelling kept in the current 2018 constitution.
Mauritius
- 1. Composer Philippe Gentil was a violinist, trumpeter and saxophonist in the Mauritius Police Band; he set Prosper's words to music once they had been chosen.
- 2. When the anthem was published in a national newspaper, the Police Band's bandmaster, Philippe Oh San, was wrongly credited as its composer.
- 3. The words were chosen through an open competition launched in 1968. Their author, Jean Georges Prosper, a doctor of letters of the Sorbonne, is a leading name in Mauritian literature in French, although he wrote the anthem in English.
- 4. 'Motherland' was played for the first time at the independence ceremony on 12 March 1968, straight after 'God Save the Queen' was played for the last time.
Listen
Comoros
Mauritius
