Christianity in Burundi

Burundi is located at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and East Africa. It shares borders with Rwanda to the North, Tanzania to the East and Southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the West. Lake Tanganyika lies along its Southwestern border. The capital cities are Gitega (Political) and Bujumbura (Economic). The country has a human population of 13,162,952 and 3 ethnic groups. These are Hutu (85%), Tutsi (14%) and Twa (1%). Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith embraced by 63.7% of the population. Others are Protestant faith (25%), other Christian denominations (4.5%), African traditional religion (4.3%), Islam (2.1%) and other faiths (0.2%).

Modern History

        The country gained independence in 1962, after years of being under a monarchy. However, independence did not usher in peace as series of assassinations and coups culminated in the establishment of a republic and a one-party rule in 1965. Bouts of ethnic cleansing, coupled with ethnic cleansing, and ultimately two civil wars in the 1970s and 1990s resulted in hundreds of deaths, leaving the economy undeveloped and the population one of the poorest in the world. The year 2015 witnessed large-scale political strife as President Pierre Nkurunziza opted to run for a third term in office, a coup attempt failed. The country’s parliamentary and presidential elections won by the President’s party were broadly criticised by the international community. His handpicked successor, Evariste Ndayishimiye won the Presidential election in 2020.

God’s Canvass

One of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi is landlocked and has an equatorial climate. It lies within the Albertine Rift montane forests, Central Zambezian woodlands, and Victoria Basin forest-savanna ecoregions. The average elevation of the central plateau is 5,600 feet, with lower elevations at the borders. The source of the Nile River is in Bururi province, and is linked from Lake Victoria to its headwaters via the Ruvyironza River. Another major source of water is Lake Tanganyika, located in much of the country’s Southwestern flank. Burundi has a rich variety of fauna and flora as shown below.

Fauna

The country is home to 596 species of birds, 163 species of mammals, 52 of reptiles, 56 of amphibians and 215 species of fish. The wildlife has drastically reduced in recent years, mainly due to intense population pressure that has facilitated the conversion of large areas of forest into agricultural land, and extensive livestock farming. Most of the wild animals in Burundi are kept in protected areas, namely Kabira National Park, Ruvubu National Park and Rusizi National Park. Some of the animals are presented below.

Flora

      Burundi is one of the most deforested countries in tropical Africa. Consequently, most of the country is savanna grassland; there is little forest left. Currently, there are 3,600 plant species in Burundi. Some of them are shown below.

Beaches

Culture

        Burundi’s culture is based on local traditions and the influence of neighbouring countries. It includes songs, dances, folklores and poetry. Burundian conversations and social gatherings often feature recitations, singing and exchange of proverbs/jokes.

Traditional Attire

       ‘Pagnes’ (cloth wraparounds) are the main traditional clothing of Burundi, especially in rural areas. Most women prefer to wear a closely fitted matching inside piece with capped sleeves. However, male herders wear two pieces of cloth that hang down to the knees with a cord at the waist. In Bujumbura, the country’s capital, the women prefer to wear “designer” Burundi dresses. The style conscious men and women in the city are called “sapeurs”.  Often times, Burundian women tend to rock a dress style known as “Imvutano”. This is the widely recognised traditional dress for women in the country. The imvutano is a three-piece outfit made of an average of 3 metres of light material. The skirt is long and flowing to the floor with gathers which are prominent at the sides of the upper hip, where the skirt sits. The pictures below depict some of the traditional clothing.

Cuisine

        The choice of food in Burundi can appear limited at first, but the cuisine is in fact both varied and flavoursome. The ingredients native to the country include beans, maize, manioc, sweet potatoes, peas and plantains. Some notable dishes are shown below.

Status of Christianity in Burundi

        According to a Christian group, the Joshua Project, about 93% of the country’s population identify as followers of Christ, of which about 27% are Evangelical. The group claims that majority of these are nominal Christians, with many of them maintaining their traditions secretly. There is also the problem of proliferation of churches with unbiblical doctrines and viewpoints. The picture painted by the Joshua Project is not peculiar to Burundi. Christianity has lately witnessed all forms of apostasy due to the pervasive influence of ministers who promote their own interest instead of that of Christ. This is the main reason for the proliferation of denominations with unbiblical worldview. Let us raise a cry to the Father to purge the church in Burundi in particular of these worldly influences. 

Prayer Points

1. Pray that the people of God in Burundi would not allow politicians to drag them into their corrupt circles.
2. Pray that believers would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak truth to power instead of bending backwards to accommodate the antics of corrupt politicians.
3. Ask the Father to sanctify all believers in the country with His word.
4. Pray that God would destroy faulty foundations in the lives of all believers in the country and lay new ones in Christ Jesus.
5. Ask the Father to purge Christians in Burundi of pollutions from traditional religions.
6. Pray that God would pour out His Spirit on unsaved people in the country to bring them to repentance.
7. Pray that He would remove the blindfold of satan from their eyes, mind and heart, as well as unstop their ears that they might receive the truth of the gospel of His Son.
8. Ask the Father to destroy the influence of demonic principalities and powers in the lives of all Burundians.
9. Pray that He would send workers into His harvest in the country.
10.  Ask the Father to open doors for His children to preach the gospel to the unsaved, and also help them to be effective witnesses by modelling Christ with their lives.

Intercession Checklist

         From the political map of Burundi provided in the text, select a city, town or region for focused prayer. Present the selected geographical space to the Father and tell Him that you are claiming the salvation of its people as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Remind the Father that you are standing on the instruction He gave to His Son in Psalm 2:8, “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.”

*****Materials sourced from Burundi, http://en.m.wikipedia.org; Burundian Traditional Wedding Styles, https://danddclothing.com; Burundian Food: 7 Must-Try Dishes of Burundi, https://travelfoodatlas.com; Christians in Burundi: A Systemic Crisis, Not only a Presidential One, https://evangelicalfocus.com.