anthem analysis

The last two weeks in Kenya, religion and nationhood have been stirred together until each was unrecognisable from the other. As the worst drought in four decades worsens food insecurity in parts of the country, the president, in a nation where food is so abundant in some parts it is poured out, called for a prayer day. Things continued to deteriorate when the Supreme Court of Kenya allowed the registration of NGHLRC after a years’ long battle, resulting in a queerphobic rhetoric that led to the Twitter trend “#SayNoToLGBTQinKENYA.” Next door in Uganda, the antihomosexuality law is the cat with nine lives. It will, once again, be tabled today (March 1st). The bill to 'protect African values' has been resssurected every few months even after evidence that foreign evangelicals are funding its push.

Present day religion is significantly influenced by European missionaries who traveled to new lands to explore and eventually colonise the spaces. In Africa, specifically, countries which were former British colonies were more likely to have the word God in their anthem.

The connection between the former colonies and their colonisers is evident in their anthems. For instance, Algeria’s anthem directly addresses France:

O France, the time of reproof is over

And we have ended it as a book is ended;

O France, this is the day of reckoning

So prepare to receive from us our answer!

Which national anthems are the saddest and happiest?

Most countries’ national anthems are in a major key, which is considered happier. However, the countries in the sadder minor key are concentrated in the same region near the borders of Europe and the Middle East. Significantly, Iran’s national anthem is both among the sadder ones by this measure and also among the angriest by a sentiment analysis of the text in it.

An analysis into the positivity rates of national anthems found that in Africa, countries that are former French colonies are more likely to have less positive national anthems. In South America, majority of national anthems are positive while North America national anthems are negative.

Generally, countries with more positive national anthems also have more danceable anthems. An analysis of national anthems’ danceability found that the top most danceable national anthems are African.

Latvia's national anthem lyrics are the most positive and joyous and Italy's the saddest