Cultural Guide: Burundi
This guide is intended to help Boise State University (BSU) students prepare for their
service-learning experience with the Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR). Learning about a
refugee’s nation of origin, their culture, and their historic background is central to
understanding who they are. Additionally, tips for teaching English and interacting
socially will improve communication and the chances of a successful experience for both
student and refugee. It takes many human-service professionals as wells as volunteers
from the community to participate in refugee resettlement. Thank you for helping to
welcome refugees to our community.
The Staff of the BSU Service Learning Center
Where is Burundi?
Figure 1. Map of Burundi. The arrow
points to Burundian refugees’ route to
refugee camps in Tanzania [1]
According to the World Fact Book, Burundi is
a densely populated country of about nine
million people that is located in central Africa
and borders Tanzania, Rwanda, and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (see Figure
1). It is comparable in size to Maryland.
Burundi has two wet seasons and two dry
seasons per year and, due to its proximity to
the equator, temperatures rarely drop below
60° F. Most Burundians have never seen snow
and may find Boise winters challenging.
A majority of the population lives in the country’s lowlands instead of in the hilly and
mountainous areas. Most of Burundi’s land is either pasture or agriculture. There are two
national parks [2]. Burundi is home to elephants, leopards, antelopes, monkeys, and
flying lemurs. Particular species of hippopotamus, crocodiles, and fish that are not found
anywhere else in the world live in Lake Tanganyika, the largest lake in Burundi [3].
Common cash crops for exportation are coffee (80% of export earnings), tea, sugar, and
cotton [4]. Crops grown for personal consumption are beans, corn, sweet potatoes, and
bananas. According to the CIA World Factbook, some small industry exists such as
“soap, shoe and blanket manufacture, food processing and assembly of foreign
components” [2]. However, the United Nations ranks Burundi as one of the poorest
countries in the world and subsistence is a daily struggle for most.
Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
What is the conflict?
Ethnically Burundi is dominated by Hutus (85%), Tutsis (14%), and Twa (1%) [2]. They
share the same religion, Christianity, and Bantu languages, as well as French. The
primary difference between the two groups is wealth and historical status. The Tutsi are
cattle herders and have a higher economic and social standing than Hutu farmers. Belgian
colonizers aggravated these differences by elevating the Tutsis to a higher status so that
they could rule over the Hutu majority in Belgium’s place [4].
Between May and August 1972, roughly 200,000 Hutus were killed in ethnic violence
and cleansing perpetrated by the Tutsi-dominated government. The event led to
approximately 150,000 Burundian Hutus fleeing to neighboring countries. “In the
aftermath, Hutu citizens were systematically repressed and their status as a group reduced
to an underclass [5].”
The psychological stress of the conflict became so rooted in both Hutus and Tutsis that
they began naming their children to reflect their personal attitudes towards the situation.
For example, some parents named their children “Nicayenzi (‘I'm quiet, but aware I'm in
danger’), Bakanibona (‘They're planning bad things, but God will protect me’) and
Tugiramahoro (‘Let's have peace’)” [6].
In October 1993, Burundi was positioned to enter a new era with their first democratic
elections. Burundians chose their first Hutu head of state, but within months he was
assassinated. In early 1994 another Hutu was elected president, but he was killed in April
of that year. A third Hutu was appointed president in October 1994, but shortly thereafter
the Tutsi majority parliament withdrew from the government.
These events caused nation-wide violence between Hutus and Tutsis to erupt again. In a
conflict that spanned 12 years an estimated 300,000 civilians were killed and an
additional 500,000 Hutu refugees fled to neighboring countries [7]. In addition, from
April through July 1994, genocide took place in neighboring Rwanda. This time,
however, it was Hutu extremists who murdered nearly 1 million Tutsis and, by extension,
forced many Tutsis into refugee status.
What was their journey?
Burundian refugees are primarily members of the Hutu ethnicity who fled Burundi due to
a campaign of violence brought against them by the Tutsi-dominated government. After
witnessing friends and family members killed, Burundian Hutus feared for their lives.
Many abandoned their homes, packed up the belongings they could physically carry and
fled Burundi on foot. The refugees set up camps in neighboring countries, with most
fleeing to Tanzania (see Figure 1). The increase in new refugees is trying on the limited
resources of the Tanzanian government. Furthermore, refuges are wearing out their
welcome after thirty-year stays for some
.
Life in Burundi
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
Figure 2. Traditional Burundian dress [8].
The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi and French. According to the Center for
Applied Linguistics (CAL), the predominant religion of Burundian refugees is
Christianity (96%) with the majority adhering to Protestantism and 20% following
Catholicism. About 2% are Muslims and 2% other [7].
Indigenous beliefs, such as ancestor worship and animism, are also held. According to
Cultural Profiles Project, “Animists believe that inanimate and natural phenomena, as
well as living creatures, have souls and spirits” [4]. Some may follow these beliefs
independently while others hold them concurrently with Christian or Muslim beliefs.
Religion plays a large role in Burundian culture. Church is the center of social activities
such as Bible studies, choirs, women’s groups, and sermons accompanied by drumming
and dancing.
About 93% of Burundians live in rural areas and the rest live in the two main cities [4].
The average Burundian family size is five. Burundian society is patriarchal, men
dominate household and community leadership and women are expected to be
subservient to men. Women and girls complete the bulk of the family’s farm work and
are expected to do domestic chores.
Traditional clothes are made of colorful cotton fabric designs (see Figure 2). Common
crafts are woven baskets, masks, statues, and pottery. Drumming is another integral part
of Burundian culture. Large family gatherings and community celebrations are almost
always accompanied by drumming and dancing.
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, although many stories are now
written down, Burundi’s oral tradition is still strong. Folktales and fables are often
recounted by word-of-mouth to keep the legends of ancestors alive. Storytelling can be in
the form of a chant and is often set to music [4]. Popular sports in Burundi are soccer,
basketball, and track and field.
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
Life in refugee camps
Research done by CAL concluded that “all Burundian refugees speak Kirundi and some
may have learned some Kiswahili from their time living in camps in Tanzania. Only a
select few of well-educated refugees know
French. Most refugees cannot speak or
write English” [7].
According to CAL, life in refugee camps
resembles the agrarian lifestyle most
Figure 3 A Refugee Camp in Tanzania [9]
refugees left behind in Burundi (see Figure
3). Typical foods grown and consumed are
corn, sweet potatoes, plantains, rice, and
beans. Most refugees also keep home
gardens where they grow vegetables. People collect firewood for cooking, carry their
water from nearby rivers or springs, build their homes out of mud, and raise small
animals like chickens and goats [7].
Primary education is provided in camps and most children attend; however, many
students, especially girls, do not complete secondary education. Even those that do
continue their education attend schools with limited resources and high student-to-teacher
ratios. It is estimated that only 20% of the adult population is literate. This proves to be a
huge problem when trying to integrate and find employment in the U.S. While most
Burundian refugees have worked as farmers, a small number have been trained as nurses
or teachers. A handful of others are skilled seamstresses, tailors, shop keepers, and
bicycle repair technicians.
Many Burundian refugees have been in refugee camps for 25 to 35 years and are being
considered for resettlement to a third country because the Tanzanian government refuses
to grant them citizenship or the rights to employment and property ownership. Refugees
also fear returning to their native Burundi. After years in refugee camps, they have
developed different habits and ways of speaking that would set them apart from other
Burundians and make them vulnerable to discrimination. Furthermore, most refugees’
farm land in Burundi has been confiscated and redistributed by the government and they
would not have a place to return to [7]. According to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, “many refugee children and adolescents, and now a
substantial number of adults, have known nothing other than camp life [10].”
Here is one man’s story: Dieu-Donné (“Gift of God”) is a Burundian refugee. After living
in Tanzania for 25 years he feared returning to Burundi and knew he would never be
accepted as a Tanzanian. His wife, Josiane, like all other women in the camp, was in
danger of rape. Dieu-Donné was often threatened by Tanzanian political groups who tried
to recruit him.
As much as he wished he could return to Burundi and his old life, the only option he saw
was to apply for resettlement in a third country. After all the necessary documentation
was finally completed, Dieu-Donné set off to his new home in the U.S. with his wife and
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
two surviving children. Two full days of air travel later, he stepped off the plane in Boise,
Idaho with curiosity, anxiety, and disorientation.
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
Life in Boise
Burundian refugees started arriving in Boise in 2007 and by early 2009 there were 300.
The majority of Burundians living in Boise are of Hutu or mixed ethnic background.
However, most refugees do not discuss their ethnic background with others and it would
be inappropriate for volunteers to ask about a refugee’s ethnicity.
Some Burundian refugees are married couples with up to six children and others came
alone. While some came with only their immediate family, others arrived with brothers,
sisters and adult parents. Many families live together in one apartment. They have
adapted their diet to foods available in Boise and often eat couscous, beef, and tomato
sauce. A local Burundian refugee said he perceives Americans as being “very busy all the
time” and not as community-oriented as Burundians.
What activities Might I do with refugees?
According to past volunteers, every activity is a learning opportunity for refugees. A
good first step may be sharing a meal in the refugee’s home to get acquainted with the
family and help them practice speaking English. After refugees feel comfortable, outings
in town provide first-hand experiences with American culture.
In addition to the activities suggested below, refugees might have specific errands in
mind. Volunteers are encouraged to plan activities within walking distance or take public
transportation instead of transporting refugees in their own vehicles.
You might consider doing some of the following activities with Burundian refugees:

Take them to Drum Central. Located at 2709 W. State Street, the studio offers
drumming classes, performances and jam sessions.
http://www.boisedrumcentral.com

If they are Christian, take them to New Hearts Christian Ministries International, a
primarily African church community with African pastors. Services are held at:
Trinity Fellowship Church
300 N. Latah Street
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 658-5602

Help them get involved in the Global Gardens Project. There are five gardens
located in Boise that focus on helping refugees grow crops for consumption and sale.
http://onenet0707.neoreef.com/home/global_gardens/

If they are trained as tailors or seamstresses, help them get involved with Jaguar
Moon Bags, a local cooperative that employs refugees to sew tote bags.
http://jaguarmoonbags.com/index.php

If they don’t have a bicycle, put them in touch with the Boise Bicycle Project. The
project provides refurbished bikes for refugees
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=1884
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
Is it something I said?
Following is a list of etiquette tips that will help you avoid offensive faux pas when
interacting with Burundians. These tips and more are found at
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk [11].
 Greeting a Burundian is more involved than greeting an American. Make sure to greet
elders first. After shaking hands ask questions about the person’s health, business and
anything else you know about the person.
o To skip or rush this element in the greeting process is the height of poor
manners.
 Keep in mind that refugees have survived great hardships including interrogation,
violence, loss of loved ones, and homesickness. You should respect their privacy and
refrain from asking probing questions about family members who are not here in Boise.
 If you are invited to a Burundian's home, bring fruit, flowers, or chocolates to the
host. A small gift for the children (candy for example) is always appreciated.
 Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks. Muslims do not drink
alcohol or eat pork.
 Dress well; Burundians place a lot of emphasis on how people dress. Male volunteers
should wear slacks and a button-up shirt and female volunteers should wear a long skirt
and long-sleeved shirt.
 Burundians favor their right hand because their left hand is used in the restroom for
hygienic purposes. The right hand, never the left (even if you are left-handed), is used for
eating and giving or accepting thing such as change and gifts.
 When eating with your right hand scoop the food with the thumb and first two
fingers.
 As a guest, you will be offered prized delicacies such as chicken gizzards. This is
considered an honor. If you cannot eat them, thank your host profusely and request that it
is more appropriate that it be given to the eldest person present.
 It is a good idea to take a small amount the first time the platters are brought so that
you may take second helpings when urged.
 If offered the last serving of an item, offer an initial refusal and expect your host to
then offer the item a second or third time, in which case you may accept.
 When in doubt, watch what others are doing and follow their lead.
See Table 1 for some basic Kirundi greetings. A great website for learning Kirundi
vocabulary and phrases (including audio pronunciations of words) is Amahoro.com [12]
at: http://www.amahoro.com/KirundiTourist/home.htm
Table 1. Kirundi Vocabulary [12]
Kirundi
BGAKEYE
MWIRIWE
NI VYIZA KUBONANA NAWE
AMAKURU
NAGASAGA
English
Good morning
Good afternoon, evening
Nice to meet you
How are you?
Goodbye
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
MURAKOZE
Thank you
Where can I learn more?
You may find the following resources helpful:
YouTube videos:

“The 1972 Burundians”
A great background on refugee camps and the resettlement process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIuizW35gFw

“Burundian Drummers”
Burundian drumming, dancing and scenery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iecVcVsmrnY&feature=PlayList&p=EE6580D20B54
F311&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

“Moving On”
Describes the current political situation in Burundi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaWSohv8iPk&feature=related
Burundi-specific on-line resources:

Center for Applied Linguistics
Another background document on Burundian refugees.
http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_burudians.pdf

Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
A detailed country profile outlining Burundian history, politics, culture, economy and
topography.
http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/burundi/index.html
Book on Burundi:

Historical Dictionary of Burundi by Ellen K. Eggers.
Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2006.
“A guide to the culture and history of Burundi in an encyclopedic format” [4].
General refugee resources:

Idaho Office for Refugees
The Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR) works to promote mutual understanding between
refugees and the larger community by sharing information, encouraging social interaction
and developing opportunities for refugees to participate in all aspects of community life.
http://onenet0707.neoreef.com/

Agency for New Americans
The Agency for New Americans (ANA) provides case management, employment
services and immigration assistance to older refugees under agreement with the Idaho
Office for Refugees.
http://www.anaidaho.org/
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Burundi Cultural Quick Guide
References
[1] Theodora’s Map Store. Quick Map of Burundi. [Online]. Available:
http://www.theodora.com/maps/#B
[2] U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. World Fact Book. [Online]. Available:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/by.html
[3] Maps of the World. Burundi Country Profile. [Online]. Available:
http://www.mapsofworld.com/burundi/geography/flora-and-fauna.html
[4] Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Cultural Profiles Project, Burundi. [Online].
Available: http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/burundi/index.html
[5] Public Broadcasting Station. Online Newshour, “The Hutu-Tusti Conflict.” [Online].
Available: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/africa/jan-june99/hutus_tutsis.html
[6] T. Pittman. “In Burundi, Names Speak Volumes.” Associated Press. [Online].
Available: http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2008/03/16/
in_burundi_names_speak_volumes/
[7] Center for Applied Linguistics. Refugee Backgrounders: “1972 Burundians.”
[Online]. Available: http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_burudians.pdf
[8] Flicker. Photo: “A Woman of Burundi.” [Online] Available:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/1390819131_186e107ce2.jpg?v=0
[9] Andrew MacDonell Homepage. Photo: “Refugee Camp Near Ngozi.” [Online].
Available: http://www.andrewmacdonell.co.za/Ruvumu_camp.jpg
[10] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “Group Resettlement of ‘1972
Burundians’ from Tanzania.” [Online]. Available:
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid=0.1&thid=1208cd01477ccbc4&mt=application
%2Fpdf
[11] Kwintessential. Country Etiquette Guides. [Online]. Available:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html
[12] Kirundi for Tourists. Greetings. [Online]. Available:
http://www.amahoro.com/KirundiTourist/GREETINGS.html
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