National Anthem Comparison
Mauritania vs Senegal
Comparison Analysis
Mauritania and Senegal, both Africa nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Mauritania's "National Anthem of Mauritania" was written in 2017, while Senegal's "Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons" dates to 1960.
Both anthems share themes of ancestors / heritage. Mauritania additionally explores god / faith and love of homeland, while Senegal also touches on unity, identity, diversity and peace.
The emotional tones differ: Mauritania's anthem is solemn, while Senegal's is proud.
Senegal's anthem predates Mauritania's by 57 years, having been written in 1960 compared to 2017.
Mauritania changed its national anthem in 2017, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Mauritania
Senegal
Shared themes:
Metadata
| Mauritania | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 2017 | 1960 |
| Adopted | 2017 | 1960 |
| Lyricist | Committee | Léopold Sédar Senghor |
| Composer | Rageh Daoud | Herbert Pepper |
| Language | ar | fr |
| Region | West Africa | West Africa |
Lyrics Side by Side
Mauritania
نشيد موريتانيا الوطني
Original
Translation
Senegal
Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons
Original
Translation
Interesting facts
Mauritania
- 1. Earlier attempts to give Mauritania an officially adopted anthem had failed: in 1977 a commission held a competition in which more than 70 poets took part, but none of their texts was accepted, and further attempts in 1986, 1990 and 2001 also came to nothing.
- 2. The same constitutional reform changed the flag, adding horizontal red bands along its top and bottom edges.
- 3. The previous anthem set a poem by Baba Ould Cheikh Sidiya to a traditional melody; its unusual rhythm made it so hard to sing that it was often wrongly listed as having no words.
Senegal
- 1. Léopold Sédar Senghor, who wrote the lyrics, was elected to the Académie française in 1983, the first African to sit in it
- 2. The anthem directly references traditional instruments: the kora (a 21-string harp) and the balafon (a wooden xylophone), both central to West African griot culture
- 3. The 'red lion' in the anthem is Senegal's national symbol, and the country's football team is known as the Lions of Teranga
Listen
Mauritania
Senegal