Burundi
Burundi Bwacu
Our Burundi
1962
1962
Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja
Marc Barengayabo
🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith |
Context
Adopted when Burundi gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Written in Kirundi, one of the few African national anthems in the country's indigenous language rather than a colonial language. Burundi and neighboring Rwanda share deep cultural and linguistic ties, and both gained independence in the same year from the same colonial power.
Lyrics
Burundi Bwacu, Burundi buhire,
Shinga icumu mu mashinga,
Ganza umahoro n'amagara,
Inkota isimbire.
Burundi Bwacu, ragi ry'abatoyi,
Raduhabwa ntawe ngo atoyi,
Uburundi bwaganzwe n'ubutwari,
Kugira amahoro n'amata.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • One of the few African anthems written entirely in an indigenous language (Kirundi) rather than a European colonial language
- • Burundi and Rwanda were administered together as Ruanda-Urundi under Belgian colonial rule and gained independence in the same year (1962)
- • The anthem's imagery of lions reflects the importance of this symbol in Burundian royal and cultural traditions