National Anthem Comparison
Morocco vs Tunisia
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
26
26 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Morocco and Tunisia, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Morocco's "Cherifian Anthem" was written in 1956, while Tunisia's "Defenders of the Homeland" dates to 1930.
Both anthems share themes of Freedom. Morocco additionally explores God / Faith, Monarchy and Unity, while Tunisia also touches on Battle / War and Resilience.
The emotional tones differ: Morocco's anthem is Majestic, while Tunisia's is Fierce.
Tunisia changed its national anthem in 1987, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Morocco
✝ God / Faith 👑 Monarchy 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity
Tunisia
⚔ Battle / War 🕊 Freedom 💪 Resilience
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Morocco | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1956 | 1930 |
| Adopted | 1956 | 1987 |
| Lyricist | Ali Squalli Houssaini | Mustafa Sadik al-Rafii / Aboul-Qacem Echebbi |
| Composer | Leo Morgan | Mohammed Abdel Wahab |
| Language | ar | ar |
| Region | North Africa | North Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Morocco
النشيد الوطني المغربي
Original
منبت الأحرار
مشرق الأنوار
منتدى السؤدد وحماه
دمت منتداه
عشت في الأوطان
للعلى عنوان
ملء كل جنان
ذكرى كل لسان
بالروح بالجسد
هب فتاك
لبي نداك
في فمي وفي دمي
هواك ثار نور ونار
إخوتي هيا
للعلى سعيا
نشهد الدنيا
أنا هنا نحيا
بشعار
الله الوطن الملك
Translation
Fountain of freedom,
Source of light,
Where sovereignty and safety meet,
May you ever remain their domain!
You have lived among nations
With title sublime,
Filling every heart,
Chanted by every tongue.
With spirit and body,
Your son has risen.
To answer your call,
In my mouth and in my blood,
Your breezes have stirred both light and fire.
My brothers, come,
Strive for the highest!
Let the world witness
That we live here
With our motto:
God, Homeland, King.
Tunisia
حماة الحمى
Original
حُمَاةَ الحِمَى يَا حُمَاةَ الحِمَى
هَلُمُّوا هَلُمُّوا لِعِزِّ الزَّمَنْ
لَقَدْ صَرَخَتْ فِي عُرُوقِنَا الدِّمَا
نَمُوتُ نَمُوتُ وَيَحْيَا الوَطَنْ
لِتَدُو السَّمَاوَاتُ بِرَعْدِهَا
لِتَرْمِ الصَّوَاعِقُ نِيرَانَهَا
إِذَا مُتْنَا مُتْنَا فِدَا لِبِلَادِنَا
وَنِعْمَ المَمَاتُ إِذَا مَا اشْتَكَى الوَطَنْ
إِذَا الشَّعْبُ يَوْمًا أَرَادَ الحَيَاةْ
فَلَا بُدَّ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ القَدَرْ
وَلَا بُدَّ لِلَّيْلِ أَنْ يَنْجَلِي
وَلَا بُدَّ لِلقَيْدِ أَنْ يَنْكَسِرْ
Translation
O defenders of the homeland!
Rally around to the glory of our time!
The blood surges in our veins,
We die, we die, so that the homeland may live!
Let the heavens thunder,
Let the thunderbolts hurl their fire,
If we die, we die as sacrifice for our country,
And what a fine death when the homeland calls.
If the people one day will to live,
Then destiny must surely respond,
The darkness must surely lift,
And the chains must surely be broken.
Interesting facts
Morocco
- 1. The music was composed by French captain Leo Morgan, making it one of the few African anthems with a melody written by a colonial officer that survived independence
- 2. Morocco is one of the oldest continuous monarchies in the world, and the anthem reflects this royal heritage with references to sovereignty and nobility
- 3. The lyrics were only officially added in 1970, fourteen years after the melody was adopted at independence
Tunisia
- 1. Echebbi's famous line 'If the people one day will to live, destiny must obey' from the same poem became a rallying cry across the entire Arab world during the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions.
- 2. Tunisia had a completely different anthem from 1958 to 1987, called 'Humat al-Hima' with different lyrics; the switch happened on the same night President Ben Ali took power in a bloodless coup.
- 3. The anthem shares its composer, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, with the anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Libya, making Wahab's melodies heard at more UN sessions than those of almost any other single composer.
Listen
Morocco
Tunisia
