This week, our World Tour is making a stop in the East African country of Burundi. Known for the world's longest freshwater lake, delicious coffee & tea, and so many stunning national parks and reserves, this country also has a thriving and vibrant music scene. Here's our brief info dump to as we get ready to jump in:
-Capital City: Gitega (political capital) & Bujumbura (economic capital)
-Official Languages: Kirundi & French
-Government: Unitary dominant-party presidential republic, currently under the leadership of President Evariste Ndaayishimiye, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza, and Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca
-The Kingdom of Burundi was established in 1680, became a part of German East Africa in 1890, became a part of Belgium's Ruanda-Urundi colony in 1962, declared their independence from Belgium in July 1962, the Republic of Burundi was established in November 1966, and their current constitution was ratified in May 2018
-Land Area: 10,747 square miles (142nd largest in the world, with 10% of its area being water)
-Population: 13,162,952 estimated as of 2023 (77th most populous in the world)
-Religion: 63.7% Roman Catholic, 25.2% Protestant, 4.5% other Christian denominations, 4.3% traditional faiths, 2.1% Islamic, 0.2% other or no religious affiliation
-Drive on the right side of the road
Burundi's music is deeply rooted in the minds and souls of the Burundian people. It's a very drum-based musical culture, with many native drums like the karyenda and ingoma playing a prominent part in their songs. Burundian music has spread more widely out of the country's borders in recent years, and it's a lot of fun to explore in preparation for this post. Let's see what we've got in store this week!
Nafsi Yangu by Kebby Boy (written by H. Yussuf)
Hakizimana Yussuf, better known by his stage name Kebby Boy, is a Burundian songwriter and singer. Born in Bujumbura, he is a proficient vocalist and tumba (a type of conga drum) player. He's been on the R&B and pop scene for about sixteen years, and has released four studio albums since 2011. Nafsi Yangu was originally featured on Kebby's 2011 album Nalia. I ended up really liking this song; it had a good mix of R&B and Afropop sounds and definitely had me swaying side to side while I listened to it. Kebby's vocals are solid, with a nice smooth tone that works well with his preferred genres. I couldn't find a reliable English translation of the lyrics, but I definitely recommend listening to this one.
Wale Watu by Khadja Nin (written by K. Nin, S. Santa María)
Khadja Nin is a Burundian singer. Born in June 1959 in Bujumbura, she began studying music early in her childhood and became a lead vocalist in the Bujumbura Choir before eventually launching her successful solo career. Over the last four decades, Nin has made a name for herself as an Afro-pop artist, releasing four studio albums between 1992 and 1998. Wale Watu, or That People in English, was featured on her 1992 self-titled album. This is just a straight up 90s slow jam, and I was here for it. Nin's vocals are very good, with a nice smooth tone laid over equally smooth instrumentals. An English translation of the original lyrics is below.
Place of the world/Place of Paris or of Rome/It has poor people/They neither cry nor demand charity/They accept their destiny/That people sings/Even when they sleep with empty stomachs/It is thus so every day/Stop speaking for nothing/Complaining about your own fortune/You do not know true misery/Look at that people over there/They neither cry nor demand charity/That people sings/Even when they sleep with empty stomachs
My Hero by Miss Erica (written by I. Erica)
Irakoze Erica, better known by her stage name Miss Erica, is a Burundian singer and songwriter. Born in Bujumbura, she originally came on the scene in 2011 and has become prolific in Afropop, hiplife, R&B, and dancehall music. Erica was named Best Female Artist at the 2019 Baja Music Awards and has also been recognized and awarded at the Afrimusic Song Contest. While she hasn't released any full-length solo albums, she does have a lot of singles available, including My Hero which was released in 2020. The song was honestly giving me somewhat EuroVision vibes, but in a good way, not a weird, corny, or bad way. It's very danceable with a fun beat, and Erica sounds like she had a lot of fun recording it. I couldn't find a reliable English translation of the lyrics, but check this song out because it's a pretty good time.
Burundi Bwacu by National Anthems Orchestra (written by J. Ntahokaja, M. Barengayabo)
Burundi Bwacu (Our Burundi in English) is the national anthem of Burundi. Adopted in 1962 when the country declared independence from Belgium, the lyrics were written by a group of Burundian writers lead by Catholic priest Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja and the melody was composed by Marc Barengayabo. The lyrics are available in Kirundi and French, with an English translation below.
Our Burundi, gentle country/Take your place in the concert of nations/Acceding to independence with honorable 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/May your name ring out through the universe
Feel Love by Sat-B (written by B. Karume)
Bizimana Karume, better known by his stage name Sat-B, is a Burundian singer, songwriter, performer, dancer, and manager. Born in December 1989 in Bujumbura, he currently acts as CEO for Empire Avenue, an African music management label. Over his fifteen year career, Sat-B has made his mark on Afropop and R&B music and has released three studio albums between 2010 and 2022. Feel Love was released as a single in 2017. This song was fun; it had a good beat, and Sat-B's vocals were nice as well. It's definitely worth a listen, especially if you're an R&B fan. I couldn't find a reliable transcript of the lyrics, but the song is available to check out on Apple Music.
Extract by The Drummers of Burundi (written by The Drummers of Burundi)
The Royal Drummers of Burundi, sometimes called The Master Drummers of Burundi or just The Drummer of Burundi, are a Burundian percussion ensemble. They began touring internationally in the 1960s, but the group has been performing for centuries with the styles and ceremonies being handed down from father to son. They perform at special ceremonies like births, funerals, and royal coronations, and the ensemble members are constantly rotating throughout the performance between playing the various drums and resting. The drums included in the ensemble include Burundi's sacred karyenda (representing mwami (kings in English), fertility, and regeneration), the central inkiranya, the amashako, and the ibishikiso. Extract was featured on the 2001 compilation album Spirit of Africa. The amount of energy these men pour into their craft is tangible and contagious. They're incredibly talented, and you can tell how important this artform is to them. It's an instrumental piece with a little bit of chanting, but I highly encourage you to give it a listen.
I hope you had fun exploring the musical landscape of Burundi, because I know I did. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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