Discover Burundi: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew

1. Tiny Country, Big Population

Whoever said size doesn't matter clearly hasn't visited Burundi: this tiny African powerhouse boasts the second highest population density in Sub-Saharan Africa, cramming in a crowd of around 315 people per square kilometre amidst its cozy, deforestation-beleaguered terrain.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Banana-rama Export Champs

Who's top banana in the world of fruit exports? You might split your sides when you find out it's Burundi: This modest country exported a bunch-worthy $85.1k of bananas in 2021, sending them mainly to Tanzania, Belgium, and the UAE, while also peeling open their wallets to import $34.2k worth of the bendy yellow delights from Tanzania that very same year. Talk about living in a banana republic, complete with whopping 24.5% average import tariffs in 2019!
Source => oec.world

Did you know that Tanzania is home to a gigantic natural StairMaster? Discover the awe-inspiring Mount Kilimanjaro, one of Africa's highest mountains, and see how it compares to your gym workouts. 🏔️💪

=> Fun Facts about Tanzania

3. Drums of Power and Royalty

Drumroll, please: in Burundi, drums not only kept the beat but ruled the land! The karyenda, a traditional drum, held semi-divine status and symbolized the Mwami (King), with its rhythms interpreted as the kingdom's rules. Its cultural significance led to its placement on the national flag and coat of arms from 1962 to 1966, and it was traditionally used in rituals and special occasions. Despite political upheavals and a royal regime change, these drums have remained revered as the ultimate beat kings of Burundi.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Secret Drum Language

When the drums start talking, only Burundian royalty can decode the message: Burundi is renowned for its unique cultural heritage, especially in drumming, where each drum corresponds to a specific event or purpose, with Batimbo drummers historically serving vital roles in safeguarding royal secrets and traditions, alongside popular oral story-telling through poetry, songs, fables, and proverbs.
Source => burundiembassy-germany.de

5. Hippo Hogwarts Express

Did you hear about Burundi's very own Hogwarts Express? Except the students are hippos, and they're commuting by the Ruvubu River, not a magical train: This river, deriving its name from the Kirundi word for hippopotamus "imvubu", stretches 416 km (258 mi) long and has a drainage basin area of 14,000 km2 (5,400 sq mi). It's home to an impressive hippopotamus community and serves as a crucial water source for both wildlife and the human population, flowing through the Ruvubu National Park where elephants, crocodiles, and antelopes can also be found.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Hilly Havens for Coffee and Tea

In Burundi, the hills are alive with the sound of percolation: the small African nation boasts an impressive coffee and tea industry, producing top-notch Arabica beans along the slopes of Lake Tanganyika and cultivating over 2,000 hectares of tea plantations that yield more than 6,000 tons of delicious tea annually.
Source => ourbigescape.com

7. Aquaman's Dream Lake

If Aquaman needed a vacation spot, he'd definitely choose this one: Burundi is home to Lake Tanganyika, the world's second-largest lake by volume that houses an impressive 18% of Earth's fresh water, plunges to a breathtaking 1,470 meters in depth, and boasts over 350 species of fish.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Game of Thrones' Drumming Cousins

If the rhythmic beats of Game of Thrones had a long-lost African cousin, it would be found partying it up at Burundi's traditional ceremonies: The Karyenda drumming tradition of Burundi is a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage, used at weddings, funerals, and coming-of-age events, where sacred drums blend with a symphony of singing and dancing, all passed down through generations like a musical heirloom.
Source => utalk.com