National Anthem Comparison
Mali vs Mauritania
0
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
55
55 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Mali and Mauritania, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Mali's "Mali" was written in 1962, while Mauritania's "National Anthem of Mauritania" dates to 2017.
The two anthems take different thematic approaches. Mali's focuses on Unity, Freedom, Battle / War and Hope, while Mauritania's centers on God / Faith, Love of homeland and Ancestors / Heritage.
The emotional tones differ: Mali's anthem is Proud, while Mauritania's is Solemn.
Mali's anthem predates Mauritania's by 55 years, having been written in 1962 compared to 2017.
Mauritania changed its national anthem in 2017, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Mali
🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🌅 Hope
Mauritania
✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Metadata
| Mali | Mauritania | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1962 | 2017 |
| Adopted | 1962 | 2017 |
| Lyricist | Seydou Badian Kouyaté | Committee |
| Composer | Banzumana Sissoko | Committee |
| Language | fr | ar |
| Region | West Africa | West Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Mali
Le Mali
Original
À ton appel Mali
Pour ta prospérité
Fidèle à ton destin
Nous serons tous unis
Un peuple, un but, une foi
Pour une Afrique Unie
Si l'ennemi découvre son front
Au dedans ou au dehors
Debout sur les remparts
Nous sommes résolus de mourir
[Refrain]
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre drapeau sera liberté.
Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali,
Notre combat sera unité.
Ô Mali d'aujourd'hui
Ô Mali de demain
Les champs fleurissent d'espérance
Les cœurs vibrent de confiance
Debout villes et campagnes
Debout femmes, jeunes et vieux
Pour la patrie en marche
Vers l'avenir radieux
Pour notre dignité
Renforçons bien nos rangs
Pour le salut public
Forgeons le bien commun
Ensemble au coude à coude
Faisons le sentier du bonheur
[Refrain]
La voie est dure très dure
Qui mène au bonheur commun
Courage et dévouement
Vigilance à tout moment
Vérité des temps anciens
Vérité de tous les jours
Le bonheur par le labeur
Fera le Mali de demain
[Refrain]
L'Afrique se lève enfin
Saluons ce jour nouveau
Saluons la liberté
Marchons vers l'unité
Dignité retrouvée
Soutient notre combat
Fidèle à notre serment
De faire l'Afrique unie
Ensemble debout mes frères
Tous au rendez-vous de l'honneur
[Refrain]
Translation
At your call, Mali
For your prosperity
Loyal towards your destiny
We will be all united,
One people, one goal, one faith,
For a united Africa
If the enemy should show himself
Inside or outside,
Standing on the ramparts,
We are ready to die.
[Chorus]
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our banner shall be liberty.
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our fight shall be for unity.
Oh, Mali of today,
Oh, Mali of tomorrow,
The fields are flowering with hope
Hearts are thrilling with confidence.
Standing town and country
Standing women, young and old
For the country moving
Towards a bright future
For our dignity
Let us strengthen our ranks well
For the public salvation
Let us forge the common good
Together shoulder to shoulder
Let us make the path of happiness
[Chorus]
The path is hard very hard
Which leads to common happiness
Courage and dedication
Vigilance at all times
Truth of ancient times
Truth everyday
Happiness through labour
Will make the Mali of tomorrow
[Chorus]
Africa finally rises
Let us welcome this new day
Let us welcome liberty
Let us march towards unity
New found dignity
Supports our fight
True to our oath
Of making Africa united
My brothers standing together
All at the appointment of honour
[Chorus]
Mauritania
نشيد موريتانيا الوطني
Original
وطني حبّك في فؤادي يسري
بك أحيا مثلما يحيا السّمك بالبحر
منك أجني ما أشاء من فخر
لك ربّي وعلى كلّ البشر
عطّر الدنيا بمسك من عبير
وأنار الكون من سنا القمر
بتراب الأرض يسمو المنبت
وبرمل القاع يغلو الجوهر
أنت يا وطن عزيز المحتد
فتبارك سامي الأصل الأغر
Translation
My homeland, your love flows through my heart,
In you I live as fish live in the sea,
From you I reap all the pride I desire.
For you, my Lord, and upon all mankind,
You perfumed the world with fragrant musk
And illuminated the universe with the glow of the moon.
In the earth's soil the origin rises high,
And in the sands of the seabed the jewel grows precious.
You, O homeland, are of noble descent,
So blessed be your exalted and illustrious origin.
Interesting facts
Mali
- 1. The anthem became official by law n° 62-72 of 9 August 1962, two years to the day after Mali's independence; the law fixes both the title 'Le Mali' and the four verses with refrain.
- 2. Seydou Badian Kouyaté, the lyricist, was a French-trained physician and the author of the 1957 novel Sous l'orage; he served as Minister of Rural Development under Modibo Keïta and went into exile after the 1968 coup.
- 3. Banzumana Sissoko, blind from childhood, was already known across West Africa as the ngoni master nicknamed le vieux lion de Ségou before he reworked the medieval air the anthem now carries.
- 4. The Malian Pioneer movement of the 1960s translated the lyrics into Bambara as 'Afiriki ye ani e ye, Mali'; the translation, attributed to Abdulay Bari, is sung at school assemblies to this day.
Mauritania
- 1. The new anthem uses imagery of fish and the sea, unusual for a country that is 90% Saharan desert, reflecting the importance of the Atlantic coastline to Mauritanian identity and economy.
- 2. Mauritania's 2017 anthem change was bundled with adding green stripes to the national flag, making it one of the rare cases where both anthem and flag were redesigned simultaneously by popular vote.
- 3. The previous anthem had no musical instruments in its official performance, being sung a cappella in accordance with certain interpretations of Islamic tradition regarding music.
Listen
Mali
Mauritania
