A day in the life of Burundi: Burundi is a beautiful country with a rich culture and wildlife. However, it is also face with a lot of problems due to poverty the biggest being child malnutrition and unsafe drinking water.
Republic of Burundi Profile
Population: 11.14 million people (2018)
Life expectancy: 50 years for both genders
GDP: 900 dollars per capita, world's second lowest GDP
Political Capital: Gitega
Economic Capital: Bujumbura
Official languages: Kirundi and French
Main ethnic groups: Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa
Borders: Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo
(UN, World Bank, CIA World Factbook)
Burundi is one of the smallest countries in Africa
Burundi's Flag & National Emblem
Red-represents struggle for independence
Green-represents hope for future
White symbolises peace
Central three stars -represent three main ethnic groups as well as the national motto "unity, work, progress." which can be seen in the national emblem that also contain the three traditional Burundi swords. The National symbols of Burundi are the lion, the flag, and the drum.
Burundi's National Anthem: Burundi Bwacu
The anthem was written in the Kirundi language by a group of writers led by Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja, a Catholic priest, and composed by Marc Barengayabo, it was adopted upon independence in 1962.
English Translation:
Our Burundi, gentle country,
Take your place in the concert of nations, Acceding to independence with honourable intentions. Wounded and bruised, you have remained master of yourself. When the hour came, you arose, Lifting yourself proudly into the ranks of free peoples.Receive, then, the congratulations of the nations. And the homage of your sons and daughters. May your name ring out through the universe. Our Burundi, sacred heritage from our forefathers, Recognised as worthy of self-government, With your courage you also have a sense of honour. Sing the glory of liberty conquered again. Our Burundi, worthy of our tenderest love, We vow to your noble service our hands and hearts and lives. May God, who gave you to us, keep you for us to venerate, Under the shield of unity, In peace, joy and prosperity.
Burundi's Food Culture
Boko -first photo. Is the national dish. A porridge from shredded meat and bulghur wheat
Ugali -second photo. Is an African porridge
Marahagwe -third photo. Is a bean soup
Ibiharage -fourth photo. Consists of fried beans
Matura and mahu - fifth photo. A sausage dish
Banana beer - sixth photo. East Africans, particularly Burundians, are known for brewing banana beer. The beer is often drunk in groups from a single large container through straws.
Burundi's Festivals!
Sauti Za busara - one of the most important festivals in Africa. It's held in Zanzibar, Tanzania every year from February 11-14th. Many different musicians and singer across East Africa attend the festival.
Sorghum Festival (umuganuro) - Was a historical festival not really celebrated anymore in Burundi. It was meant as a display of festivities for the royal court full of music, and drums called rukinzo and mwami. Drums are a big part of the Burundi culture and each called the "dispenser of peace" or "lady of the land." After festivals they are kept in drum sanctuaries.
Akaranga, New Years and Christmas are also festivals celebrated in Burundi, the most important celebration being Christmas. They are joyful accompanied by food, music, and dance.
Drums are a huge part of the traditional folk music of Burundi. Below is a video of such an event taking place in Gitega-Gishora.
Burundi's Heritage
Burundi is a beautiful country with rich wildlife full of diverse species. The country is home to 2,950 species of plants, 596 birds, 163 species of vertebrates, 52 species of reptiles, 56 species of amphibians, and 215 fish species. However, the wildlife has been drastically decreasing in recent years due to population pressures and agricultural use.
*Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest freshwater lake, the second-deepest and the second-largest in volume. It is also the second-largest of the African Great Lakes after Lake Victoria.
Burundi's Sports
Burundi is a big fan of sports. They are especially big fans of football which is also Burundi's national sport. In fact, Burundi has competed in several African Cup of Nations Championships.
Burundi is also a big fan of Track and Field. They even have proud winner Vénuste Niyongabo, as can be seen on the photo on the left, who won Burundi's first Gold medal in the 5,000 meter race during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
A little lesson on History
The country was originally populated by the Twa and Pygmy hunter and gatherers
1000 CE -Hutu farmers arrived in the region. They now consist of the largest proportion of the population. Some time later the Tutsi entered the country.
16th century -A Tutsi monarchy developed
1890 -Burundi, Along with Rwanda, and Tanganyika became part of the German protectorate of East Africa
1916 -After WW1, Burundi was awarded to Belgium: the Belgian army occupied the area, which later became a Belgian protectorate.
1962 -Burundi was separated from Ruanda-Urundi and became independent.
1993-94 -An Ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis escalated into full-scale civil war
2015 -There were unrests sparked by President Nkurunziza's plans to stand for third term.
June 18th, 2020 -Ndayishimiye became president after being elected
Did You Know...?
In 2014, Burundi, was ranked as the world’s hungriest – or most undernourished – country in the Global Hunger Index for the third year in a row.
Burundi is home to Gustave, a man-eating crocodile responsible for killing hundreds of people. The crocodile lives in Lake Tanganyika, is thought to be over 60 years old and has attacked hundreds of people between 1987 and 2009. It is unknown if he is still alive.
Burundians greet each other through cow blessings. Cows are a symbol of happiness, health and prosperity in Burundi. A common Kirundi greeting is “amashyo,” which translates as “may you have many herds of cattle.” The response is “amashongore” which translates as “may you have many herds of female cattle.”
Once a cow dies, it's horns are planted near the house so that it brings good luck.
90% of the Burundi population is employed in agriculture
Burundi's primary exports are Arabica Coffee, tea, sugar, and cotton.
Burundi is one of the world’s worst countries for internet access. Just 3% of the population has access to the internet.
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