Poor Burundi. Landlocked. Small. Limited resources. Largely uneducated. Wholly overpopulated. Deeply impoverished. Lousy economy. Inept political leaders. Human rights abuses. Violence as legacy. Coups after coups. Is it a wonder that such a tiny country sandwiched between two giant African nations of Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo in the crossover region of east-central Africa is marginalized in name and thought on the global stage? And, if so much is written, discussed, reported about on the events of this corner of the world particularly in terms of civil war, genocide, and refugee flight why is Burundi on the peripheral when such a topic is brought up? Yes, Burundi has endured enough of a legacy of genocide, regicide, nepotism, factionalism, ethnicism, tribalism, paroxysm, discrimination, assassinations, violent uprisings, civil war, abrupt killings and military dictatorships that would turn away the average mainstream viewer if such a country did make headline news. Interesting enough—upon closer inspection in the midst of such a sordid reality lies something beautiful and important that Burundi can offer as an example for the world. Out of the tragic comedy that renders human life and human history lies Burundi—more particularly, Burundians—a society of peoples who forged, through the bitterness of the past and all its current marks and scars, to arrive at the sudden yet necessary realization of redemption, hope, reconciliation, peace, and unity. Such a people faced the elements of the ugliness of the human situation—fear, hatred, angst, and ignorance to arrive soundly on love, harmony, forgiveness, and wisdom.
Burundi is not unlike other countries of Africa much less its neighbors. Like Rwanda to the north Burundi shares a similar ethnic makeup among its citizenry in being of Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa descent. Both countries also share a similar native, Bantu language spoken by the vast majority of the country along with similar culture edifices in food, dance, clothing, music, vibes, and mannerisms. Burundi is often seen like its neighbors in the regions of east and central Africa as being scenically beautiful with lush rolling hills, verdant countrysides, and a vibrant ecosystem that mirrors much of Sub-Saharan Africa. So, in no way is Burundi strangers in the land or a marginalized, alien country of human beings placed through a vacuum in its current location from outer space. Like most countries on the black continent Burundi endured the cold, callousness of European colonization only to see it metastasize insidiously a half-century later into Western corporate greed. Burundi has had to like many African countries upon marking their independence the need to symbolically and literally forge a new identity for generations to come. Despite the conflicts that occurred since independence, Burundians are a very proud people. Pride is a limitation in that it makes Burundians think that no other people understand their plight. It is also an asset that unites them despite their historical origins, and the divisions intentionally created by their colonial ruler. Here, Burundi is dissimilar to many of its neighboring countries in the complexity on its arduous road to a free, democratic, and independent republic. Such a level of complexity makes the topic of Burundi much too difficult to “black and white” for truncated online reporting and media soundbites bent on being terse. As in the words of Dr. Rene Lemarchand, one of the leading scholars on Burundi politics and history, penned this year in an online news article:
“Yes, Burundi. Unlike Rwanda, the name has yet to become a household term among Americans. Nonetheless, this small, densely populated, ethnically divided republic has a lot in common with its neighbor to the north: both were once monarchies; they shared much the same language, ethnic map and social institutions; after being forced into the German colonial mold of East Africa, they were entrusted to Belgium as Mandates under the League of Nations and then, after World War II, as United Nations Trust Territories until their independence in 1962. Last but not least, they both experienced genocide.”
The 1972 bloodbath in Burundi sometimes referred to natives as ikiza, the “scourge”, marked the first recorded genocide in post-independence Africa. The first democratically-elected and civilian-ruled president of Burundi coming to office some 30 years after independence was assassinated less than 100 days in office. Even the decade-long civil war in Burundi was negotiated and overseen through the end by two stalwarts of 20th century Pan-African political leaders—Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere (until his death) and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. No where else on the continent for decades was violence and bloodshed so consistent than in Burundi. Rebellion after rebellion, blood for blood, uprisings after uprisings, and coups after coups marked the political trajectory of Burundi as an once-Belgian colony to a nascent African developing nation. Just as there exist victims and villains to the Burundian saga there also exist heroes and martyrs to this story. Ironically, the Byzantine politics of Burundi, which is as opprobrious as many older Burundians would like not to remember and many outside of Burundi would find hard to believe, does allow itself a glimpse to the sacredness of human will and the beauty of forgiveness.
It takes a high measure of forgiveness to put the weapons of war down. It takes a deeper level of human will to not avenge family members and friends slaughtered in mass violence. It takes a profound aspect of discipline to accept reality and what has happened and concentrate on peace-building and efforts at reconciliation. It takes an evolving character trait to teach lessons of the past and events in history to the next generation based on an accurate narrative. If Burundians had not collectively engaged in such efforts to rebuilding their country inside and out Burundi might as well have been wiped off the map. It is in these rebuilding efforts driven through the ever-consistent instability of the country as well as the region that Burundi is a shining light to what is possible. In a tense environment of poverty and lack of resources Burundians along the way continued on their path to harmony among its diverse class of peoples. Even for the cynics who still refuse to acknowledge the forward momentum of progress in the country–known today as the “the heart of Africa”–despite the recent political events that has occurred this year cannot help but be in awe toward the very little-to-no violence among its citizens. Here, a burgeoning light for mercy and grace shines on the land of Burundi through the darkness of violence and bloodletting.
No utopia exists on planet Earth. No country can right the way of another nation free from hypocrisy and double-talk. All countries throughout the world continue to find their way to the betterment of their respective countries. In fact, elements of “freedom”, “democracy”, “liberty”, “equality”, and “progress” among many others are felt by a number of countries in the known world but mean something entirely different across the globe. This is where countries can, indeed, be an example for others in terms of sociopolitical peace, economic mobility, democratic organization, and civil order. Burundi despite its apparent marginalization and disconnect to the world shares that up-and-down momentum to national prosperity. Some of the most gentle, caring, loving, and forgiving people in the world are of Burundian descent. Time will, of course, tell whether the project for reconciliation, healing, unity, redemption, and peace will transpire itself whole and be comprehensively completed in this tiny African nation. What is the hallmark to such a road to forgiveness and the measure in healing are the majority of Burundians’ character traits and the qualities they embrace—which seeks the need for psychosocial healing and convalescence.