Burundi is one of the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, along with its neighbour Rwanda, among others (such as Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini), to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state. Founded in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s.
Burundi is bounded by Lake Tanganyika to the southwest, which is the second-oldest and second-deepest lake in the world, holding about 17% of the world’s fresh water and hosting a diverse array of aquatic life. The lake is a source of fishing and transportation, a major geographic feature with neighboring countries, and it boasts some beautiful beaches.
The country’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure.
Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. After independence in 1962 it has been plagued by periodically violent tensions between the usually-dominant Tutsi minority and the Hutu majority. A civil war, sparked off in 1993 made Burundi, the scene of one of Africa’s most intractable conflicts. The Tutsi-dominated army assassinated Melchior Ndadaye, the first democratically elected Hutu president of Burundi, sparking widespread violence and retaliatory killings. The fighting continued despite the 2000 signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement, which laid the foundation for peace. In 2005, a government agreement that shared authority was established.
The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi, French, and English—Kirundi been officially recognised as the sole national language. English was made an official language in 2014.
In 2019, Gitega, a city that historically served as the capital of the Burundian monarchy, was named the political capital of the country. However, Bujumbura, situated on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, is the largest city in the country and serves as both the country’s cultural and economic center.
Still, the landlocked country remains primarily a rural society, with just 13.4% of the population living in urban areas in 2019. Burundi is densely populated, and many young people emigrate in search of opportunities elsewhere.
In Burundi, culture is a blend of local and tribal traditions, as well as influences from neighbouring East African countries. The country has a rich musical heritage, especially the Royal Drummers of Burundi, who are famous for their drumming performances. Burundi culture also includes arts and crafts, sports, literature, and cuisine.
