Brief History

Starting in the 1500s, The Kingdom of Burundi was ruled by a series of kings called the mwami. This leader owned all of the land and would require a tax from local farmers. In 1856, European explorers and missionaries made brief visits to Burundi. In 1899, Germany gained control of Burundi, and it became a part of German East Africa. Then in 1916, Burundi was taken over by Belgium. In 1962, Burundi became an independent country. Although independent, the country was unstable as military leaders struggled to gain control and power. The instability increased, and in the 1990s a civil war between two ethnic groups, the Hutus and the Tutsi, broke out in Burundi. Over 150,000 people were killed before the end of the civil war in 2006.

National Flag

The Burundi flag has gone through several changes since the country’s independence from Belgium. Currently, the flag consists of a white diagonal cross, a white circle with three stars, and red and green areas.

Geography

Burundi is a landlocked country located in East-central Africa. The country has a hilly and mountainous terrain, also including a large plateau and a wooded area. It is bordered by the countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lake Tanganyika, which is the longest freshwater lake in the world, borders the southeast portion of Burundi.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 146th

 

Highest Mountain: Mount Heha, 2,685 m. (8,810 ft.)

 

Longest River: Kagera River, 597 km. (371 miles)

Main Languages

Kirundi, French, English.

Burundi Population: 11.2 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Gitega
Capital City Population: 135,467 (as of 2020)

Climate

Burundi has an equatorial climate, and the temperatures vary from warm to hot depending on altitude. There are four seasons in Burundi, two dry seasons and two wet seasons. Rain is usually irregular and falls mostly in the northwest. There are sometimes long periods of drought in Burundi.

Key People

• Shabani Nonda
• Pierre Nkurunziza
• Khadja Nin

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  Cuisine

  About 80% of Burundian land is devoted to agriculture, including coffee, corn, tea, and beans. Fruits and vegetables grown in Burundi include bananas, cassava, plantains, and corn. Meat, which is usually chicken or goat, is rarely eaten. However, fish is very popular near the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The national dish of Burundi is a cornmeal porridge, which is often called mealie-meal or pap.

  The picture is a picture of a Burundian black bean soup.

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  Sports

  The national and most popular sport in Burundi is football. The Burundian football team has competed in almost all African competitions. One of the most famous Burundian football players is Mohamed Tchité, who was named the Burundian Footballer of the Year in 2001.  An ancient traditional game called urubugu is popular among all age groups in Burundi. Other sports that are popular in Burundi include basketball and horo, which is another traditional game and often played by youth.

  The picture is a picture of the Burundi Football Team.

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  Culture

  The culture of Burundi is influenced by neighboring countries and local traditions. Important aspects of Burundian culture include song, dance, poetry, stories, and legends. The major ethnic groups of Burundi are Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Christianity is the main religion in Burundi, followed by other African religions and Islam. Art is a valued part of Burundian culture. Crafts such as basket weaving, pottery, and mask and shield making are all common.

   

  The picture is a picture the Bujumbura Cathedral.

   

  Burundi is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Burundi here: Burundi (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Burundi. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Burundi visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Burundi