The country declared its independence on 1 July 1962 from Belgium and changed its name from Ruanda-Urundi (joint with Rwanda) to the Republic of Burundi.
Things you may not know about Burundi:
– Burundi is one of the oldest countries in Africa and one of the few whose modern boundaries remained similar to those of the ancient Kingdoms. The country is home to the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.
– Burundi was initially inhabited by the Twa, then came the Hutus, followed by Tutsi settlers who arrived in the 1400s. During the 1500s a defined Burundian kingdom emerged known as Urundi.
– The central three stars on Burundi’s flag represent the three main ethnic groups of Burundi – the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa – as well as the national motto, “Unity, work, progress.”
– The official languages in Burundi are Kirundi and French.
– The country is also one of the few republics in Africa to have a female prime minister (Sylvie Kinigi).
– Burundi officially has two capital cities. In 2019, parliament decided to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital.
– 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.
– East Africans, particularly Burundians, are known for brewing banana beer. The beer is often drunk in groups from a single large container and through straws.
– Cattle are a symbol of health, happiness, and prosperity for the Burundians. A typical Kirundi greeting, “Amashyo,” translates as “May you have herds of cattle.”
– Burundi participated for the first time in the 1996 Olympic Games and won a gold medal in the 5000m race. Unfortunately the country hasn’t won any medals since.
– The culture of Burundi includes mainly songs, dances, and stories. For example, the shepherds have their own songs which they sing when leading the animals back from the pastures; and in the home the elders tell the young generation stories and legends relating the life of their ancestors. Drums play a big part in the music of most African countries, but in Burundi they have an almost spiritual meaning.
Happy independence day Republic of Burundi
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