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| Republika y'u Burundi République du Burundi Republic of Burundi
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| Motto: "Ubumwe, Ibikorwa, Iterambere" (Kirundi) "Unité, Travail, Progrès" (French) "Unity, Work, Progress" 1 |
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| Anthem: Burundi bwacu |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Bujumbura |
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| Official languages | Kirundi, French | |||||
| Demonym | Burundian | |||||
| Government | Republic | |||||
| - | President | Pierre Nkurunziza | ||||
| Independence | from Belgium | |||||
| - | Date | July 1, 1962 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 27,830 km² (145th) 10,745 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | 7.8% | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2005 estimate | 7,548,000 (94th) | ||||
| - | 1978 census | 3,589,434 | ||||
| - | Density | 271/km² (43rd) 533.8/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2003 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $4.517 billion² (142nd) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $739 (163rd) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2005 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $799 million[1] (162nd) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $90 (182nd) | ||||
| Gini (1998) | 42.4 (medium) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.413 (low) (167th) | |||||
| Currency | Burundi franc (FBu) (BIF) |
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| Time zone | CAT (UTC+2) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC+2) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .bi | |||||
| Calling code | +257 | |||||
| 1 | Before 1966, "Ganza Sabwa". | |||||
| 2 | Estimate is based on regression; other PPP figures are extrapolated from the latest International Comparison Programme benchmark estimates. | |||||
Burundi (pronounced [buˈɾundi]), officially the Republic of Burundi, is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Africa bordered by Rwanda on the north, Tanzania on the south and east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west. Although the country is landlocked, much of the western border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika. The country's modern name is derived from the Bantu language, Kirundi.
Geographically isolated, facing population pressures and having sparse resources, Burundi has the lowest gross domestic product per capita in the world. Due to economic conditions in the country, arguably makes the Burundi the poorest country on the planet. One scientific study of 178 nations rated Burundi's population as having the lowest satisfaction with life of all.[2]
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[edit] History
Archaeologists claim that the pygmoid Twa, a hunter gathering tribe, first settled the region in 70,000 B.C.E.[3] Approximately 5000 years ago, the Huntus, Bantu speaking people from the mountainous regions of central Africa, occupied the region and provided the country's first language.[4] Later, the Tutsi, who came from Ethiopia, settled the region in the sixteenth century. During the Tutsi's reign, agriculture was introduced, a feudal system was established with chiefdoms, and the relationship with the Huntus was maintained.[5] Up until the seventeenth century, the kingdom of Burundi expanded.[6] During the reign of the Tutsi royalty, a system for trading land in exchange for royal protection was established.[7]
Due to disputes with Ntare II Rugamba's sons' (Bezi and Batare) lineages left the kingdom of Burundi in an unstable state during the late nineteenth century.[6] The disputes eventually lead to European takeover. In 1899, the kingdom of Burundi became a German colony. Later, Germany gave Burundi to Belgium in World War I in 1916.[7] In 1923, the region became a part of the Belgian League of Nations and was known as Ruanda-Urundi. Following World War II, Ruanda-Urundi was a United Nations Trust Territory under Belgian administrative authority.[1] In 1948, Belgium allowed the formation and competition between political parties.[7] Eleven years later, Tutsi refugees inflow into the country to flee ethnic persecution.[8] The Union for National Progress (UPRONA), a multi-ethnic party led by Tutsi Prince Louis Rwagasore and the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) supported by Belgium were formed. Following an UPRONA victory in legislative elections, Prince Rwagasore was assassinated in 1961.[7] Ruanda-Urundi was changed to Burundi in 1962.[9] The country claimed independence in the same year on July 1.[7] King Mwambutsa IV was named the first ruler.[8]
During Mwambutsta's reign, ethnic violence occurred throughout the region, and the Huntus escaped to Rwanda.[8]
Until the downfall of the monarchy in 1966, kingship remained one of the last links that bound Burundi with its past. Only Tutsis were recognized as equal humans and could be Kings. The Hutus and Twas were oppressed servants at the Tutsi dictatorship.
From independence in 1962, until the elections of 1993, Burundi was controlled by a series of Tutsi military dictators. These years saw extensive ethnic violence perpetrated by Tutsis militia in power against innocent civilians, mainly Hutu . In 1972, 1988, and 1993, the Hutu were victims of genocides at the hands of Tutsi extremists who maintained all the political and economic power in the country. In 1972, 500,000 Hutus were killed by Tutsi extremists. In 1993 Burundi held its first democratic presidential elections which were won by the Hutu-dominated Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU). FRODEBU leader Melchior Ndadaye became Burundi's first elected President and also Hutu President. But a few months later he was assassinated by a group of Tutsi army officers. The killing was a pretense for the Tutsi army to start a new genocide against the Hutu. Tutsi extremists massacred thousands of Hutu civilians. Years of instability followed , and unelected dictator Pierre Buyoya took power in a coup. In August 2000, a peace deal was agreed by most of Burundi's political groups. Unfortunately, it made no distinction between political parties and genocidal forces, as both were allowed to play a role in the national institutions. The deal laid out a timetable for the restoration of democracy. After several more years of genocide against the Hutu, a cease-fire was signed in 2003 between the government and the largest Hutu rebel group, CNDD-FDD. In April of that year, FRODEBU leader Domitien Ndayizeye had replaced Buyoya as President.
As of today, the Tutsi, consisting of only 14% of the population, still control a majority of the elite business positions in Burundi. The majority of Bank Managers and University Presidents are still Tutsi. The current President, H.E. Nkurunziza, has forgiven the Tutsis for the genocides they perpetrated against the Hutu.
[edit] Politics
The politics of Burundi take place in a framework of a transitional presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Burundi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly. The President has officially called a cease-fire between the two warring parties in the civil war.
Decades of ethnic violence makes the achievement of political and social harmony difficult, as is evident in the reports of seminars of ministers of religion and teachers on the prospects for a 'nonkilling society'
[edit] Provinces, communes, and collines
Burundi is divided into 17 provinces,[1] 117 communes,[7] and 2,638 collines (hills).[10] Provincial governments are structured upon these boundaries.
The provinces are:
[edit] Geography
Burundi is a landlocked country with an equatorial climate. Called "the heart of Africa" it lies on a rolling plateau, with Lake Tanganyika in its south west corner. The average elevation of the central plateau is 5,600 feet (1,700 m), with lower elevations at the borders. The highest peak, Mount Karonje, at 9,055 feet (2,760 m) [11], lies to the southeast of the capital, Bujumbura. The southeastern and southern borders are at roughly 4,500 feet (1,370 m). A strip of land along the Ruzizi River, north of Lake Tanganyika, is the only area below 3,000 feet (915 m): this area forms part of the Albertine Rift, the western extension of the Great Rift Valley.
The land is mostly agricultural or pasture, the creation of which has led to deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss. Deforestation of the entire country is almost complete due to overpopulation, with a mere 230 square miles (600 km²) remaining and an ongoing loss of about nine percent per annum.[12] There are two national parks, Kibira National Park to the northwest (a small region of montane rainforest, adjacent to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda), Rurubu National Park to the north east (along the Rurubu River, also known as Ruvubu or Ruvuvu).
The farthest headstream of the Nile is in Burundi. Although Lake Victoria is commonly considered to be the source of the Nile, the Kagera River flows for 429 miles (690 km) before reaching Lake Victoria. The source of the Ruvyironza River, an upper branch of the Kagera River, is at Mount Kikizi in Burundi.
[edit] Economy
Burundi's largest industry is agriculture, which accounted for 58% of GDP in 1997. Coffee is the nation's biggest revenue earner with 78% of all exported goods. Other agriculture products include cotton, tea, maize, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas (of which Burundi is one of the world's ten largest producers), manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, and hides. Besides agriculture, other industries include light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing. The currency is the Burundian franc (BIF).
Burundi is the poorest country in the world, in terms of GDP per capita: US$90 as of 2007. The economy is supported by foreign aid from Western Europe and other parts of the world. In 2000 this amount reached US$92.7 million. 68% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2002. The country's estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was US$700 million in 2001. According to the World Food Programme, the majority of children aged under 5 (56.8%) suffer from chronic malnutrition. [2]
[edit] Demographics
As of 2008, Burundi was projected to have an estimated population of 8,691,005. This estimate explicitly takes into account the effects of AIDS, which has a significant effect on the demographics of the country.[1] Roughly 85% of the population are of Hutu ethnic origin; most of the remaining population are Tutsi, with a minority of Twa (Pygmy), and a few thousand Europeans and South Asians. The population density of around 315 people per square kilometre (753/sq mi) is the second highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, behind only Rwanda. The Twa are thought to be the original inhabitants of the area, with Hutu and then Tutsi settlers arriving in the 1300s and 1400s respectively.
The largest religion is Roman Catholicism (62%), followed by indigenous beliefs (23%) and a minority of Protestants (5%) and Muslims (10%). However, The Anglican Church of Burundi [3] claims over 10% of the population as members and recent reports indicate the Christian population may be as high as 90% with most of the remainder being Muslim. [4]. Care should therefore be taken with these statistics.
The official languages are Kirundi and French, although Swahili is spoken along the eastern border.
[edit] Culture
The culture of Burundi is based on local tradition and the influence of its neighbors, though its prominence has been hindered by the civil unrest. Most Burundians live in rural areas as extended families in hilltop compounds called rugos. Arranged marriages are not uncommon, with the groom’s family sometimes paying a bride price. City residents often take a siesta, and most businesses will be closed in the early afternoon.
Traditional drumming is an important part of Burundian cultural heritage, as indicated by the world-famous Royal Drummers of Burundi. Traditional dance often accompanies the drumming, which is frequently seen in celebrations and family gatherings. Burundians also adhere to a strong oral tradition which relays history and life lessons through storytelling, poetry, and song. Cattle herders engage in kivivuga amazina, an improvisational poetry contest in which they boast their abilities or accomplishments.
Football is a popular pastime throughout the country, as are mancala games. Cricket is becoming increasingly popular at grassroots level and is the most popular youth sport. Many Burundians celebrate Christian holidays and Burundian Independence Day, though the largest celebration occurs on New Year’s Day with feasting and traditional drumming and dancing.
[edit] See also
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[edit] Citations
- ^ a b c d CIA - The World Factbook - Burundi CIA. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ White, A. (2007). A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge to Positive Psychology? Psychtalk 56, 17-20. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ Gates, op. cit., p. 338.
- ^ Gates, op. cit., p. 338-9.
- ^ Gates, op. cit., p. 339.
- ^ a b Burundi - Political System and history. Institute for Security Studies (February 2005). Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Burundi. United States Department of State. February 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ a b c Timeline: Burundi. BBC. April 22, 2008. Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
- ^ Cook, op. cit., p. 281.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Land and Resources - Burundi - Africa
- ^ Worldwide Deforestation Rates
[edit] References
- Cook, Chris; Diccon Bewes (1999). What Happened where: A Guide to Places and Events in Twentieth-Century. London, England: Routledge. ISBN 1857285336.
- Gates, Henry Lewis; Anthony Appiah (1999). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. New York, New York: Basic Civitas Books. ISBN 0465000711.
[edit] External links
| Find more about Burundi on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
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Dictionary definitions |
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Textbooks |
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Quotations |
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Images and media |
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News stories |
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Learning resources |
- Official Burundi government website (in French)
- Overviews
- Rural poverty in Burundi (IFAD)
- BBC News - Country Profile: Burundi
- Burundi entry at The World Factbook
- Encyclopaedia Britannica's Burundi Country Page
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Burundi
- Directories
- Open Directory Project - Burundi directory category
- Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: Burundi directory category
- University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: Burundi directory category
- Yahoo! - Burundi directory category
- Other
- Burundian Human Rights Organisation "Ligue Iteka" - with up-to-date news in English and French
- Human Rights Watch reports on Burundi
- Woodrow Wilson Center Reports on Burundi
- Human Rights Watch special report on the August 2004 Gatumba massacre
- Links to political analyses from 1998 on by the International Crisis Group
- Reuters Alertnet - Burundi humanitarian news
- Burundi's location on a 3D globe (Java)
- Updated humanitarian news from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- Transcend Africa Network to bring peace to regions of Africa
- UNESCO Nairobi office on HIV/AIDS in Burundi
- UNESCO Nairobi office on education in Burundi
- UNESCO Nairobi Office - Fact Book on Education For All, Burundi 2006
- Canadian Cultural Profiles Project, Burundi
- More detailed map from UNHCR
Miranda/sandbox7 travel guide from Wikitravel
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