Burundi

The Republic of Burundi is a tiny landlocked nation of 14.3 million people in East Africa about the size of Belgium. The major part of its territory is covered by mountains, lakes, tropical jungles (about the 30% of the land) and rivers.

Burundi is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. It lies along Lake Tanganyika, one of the world's oldest and deepest freshwater lakes.

The country's landscape is dominated by rolling green hills, which are vital for agriculture, including crops like coffee, tea, and bananas.

Mount Heha is Burundi's highest point at 2,685 meters (8,810 feet), while Lake Tanganyika marks its lowest elevation at 772 meters (2,532 feet).

Burundi has two capitals—Gitega (political capital) since 2019 and Bujumbura (economic capital), which lies on Lake Tanganyika's northeastern shore

The Kingdom of Burundi dates back to the late 16th century and was ruled by a monarch known as the mwami. The kingdom featured a hierarchical society with fluid social mobility between Hutu and Tutsi groups.

Burundi was part of German East Africa from 1890 to 1916, later becoming a Belgian mandate under the League of Nations after World War I. It gained independence on July 1, 1962.

Army officer Michel Micombero abolished the Burundian monarchy and declared the country a republic with himself as president on November 28, 1966. 

Micombero ruled Burundi as a military dictator for 10 years. His regime finally collapsed in 1976 when he was ousted in a coup d'état by another army officer Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, who installed himself as president. 

Ethnic tensions between Hutu and Tutsi groups have shaped much of Burundi's modern history, including a civil war that lasted from 1993 to 2005

Burundi's runner Venuste Niyongabo led his country to earn an Olympian title in the 5000 meters at the 1996 Augusta Olympics. It was Burundi's first ever gold medal, as prior to 1996, Burundi had not competed in the Summer Games due to ethnic conflicts and coups d'etat.

In 2014, President Pierre Nkurunziza banned jogging due to fears that group runs were being used as a cover for political subversion

Rural women in Burundi greet each other with an intricate musical ritual called akazehe. A traditional practice, akazehe is a call-and-response chant that typically involves two or more women. The women stand facing each other and begin the chant with a series of high-pitched ululations, known as "ikombe." They then engage in a rhythmic exchange of phrases, often improvising on the spot. The chant is accompanied by hand gestures and sometimes by stomping or clapping.

Coffee contributes more income to the country's economy -- like neighboring Rwanda-- than any other single economic activity.

About 60 percent of Burundi's people are Christians. The religion was introduced into the country during the European colonial period.

The Hutu make up the nation's largest ethnic group (80%), followed by Tutsis (14%) and Twa (1%).

Source: EzineArticles.com