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 (disputed; also credited to Ahmed Kheireddine) |
| 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 وحماه
عشت في الأوطان
للعلى عنوان
ملء كل جنان
ذكر كل لسان
بالروح بالجسد
هب فتاك
لبى 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,
Gathering place of glory and its sanctuary,
May you ever remain its gathering place and its sanctuary!
May you live among the nations
As an emblem of greatness,
Filling every heart,
Chanted by every tongue.
With spirit and body,
Your son has risen,
Has answered your call.
In my mouth and in my blood,
Love for you has surged as 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
حماة الحمى يا حماة الحمى
هلموا هلموا لمجد الزمن
لقد صرخت في عروقنا الدما
نموت نموت ويحيا الوطن
لتدو السماوات برعدها
لترم الصواعق نيرانها
إلى عز تونس إلى مجدها
رجال البلاد وشبانها
فلا عاش في تونس من خانها
ولا عاش من ليس من جندها
نموت ونحيا على عهدها
حياة الكرام وموت العظام
حماة الحمى يا حماة الحمى
هلموا هلموا لمجد الزمن
لقد صرخت في عروقنا الدما
نموت نموت ويحيا الوطن
ورثنا السواعد بين الأمم
صخورا صخورا كهذا البنا
سواعد يهتز فوقها العلم
نباهي به ويباهي بنا
وفيها كفا للعلا والهمم
وفيها ضمان لنيل المنى
وفيها لأعداء تونس نقم
وفيها لمن سالمونا السلام
حماة الحمى يا حماة الحمى
هلموا هلموا لمجد الزمن
لقد صرخت في عروقنا الدما
نموت نموت ويحيا الوطن
إذا الشعب يوما أراد الحياة
فلا بد أن يستجيب القدر
ولا بد لليل أن ينجلي
ولا بد للقيد أن ينكسر
حماة الحمى يا حماة الحمى
هلموا هلموا لمجد الزمن
لقد صرخت في عروقنا الدما
نموت نموت ويحيا الوطن
Translation
[Translation excerpt: opening refrain and final stanza only. A full translation is pending review against the corrected original.]
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!
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. Leo Morgan, a French army captain and head of music of the Moroccan Royal Guard, wrote the melody under the protectorate; independent Morocco kept it as its anthem
- 2. The anthem's closing words, 'God, Homeland, King', are Morocco's official motto, set out in Article 4 of the 2011 Constitution
- 3. The lyrics were only officially added in 1970, fourteen years after the melody was adopted at independence; the idea of giving the anthem words came after Morocco qualified for its first FIFA World Cup, held in Mexico that year
Tunisia
- 1. The anthem closes with the opening lines of Echebbi's poem 'The Will to Live': 'If the people one day will to live, destiny must respond.' During the 2011 Arab Spring these lines were chanted and written on signs and walls in Arab cities.
- 2. From 1958 to 1987 Tunisia's anthem was 'Ala Khallidi'. Humat al-Hima replaced it on 12 November 1987, five days after Ben Ali removed President Habib Bourguiba in a bloodless coup.
- 3. Mohammed Abdel Wahab, to whom the music is usually credited, also composed Libya's anthem 'Libya, Libya, Libya' in 1951.
- 4. Both constitutions adopted since the 2011 revolution name Humat al-Hima as the national anthem: Article 4 of the 2014 constitution and Article 11 of the 2022 constitution.
Listen
Morocco
Tunisia
