BUJUMBURA, March 5th (ABP) – ” Burundian music has lost its originality and cultural identity since the advent of the new generation of musicians and that is endangering Burundian culture”. Those are the words of Mbazumutima Bangirinama Libert Cédric (Cédric Bangy), artist and president of the Burundi musicians’ cooperative, in an interview with a check by ABP on Thursday 27 February 2025.
According to Bangirimana, music is deeply linked to Burundian culture, as he pointed out that for many years the Burundians have used songs in all the events of daily life. He also pointed out that it is impossible to talk about Burundian culture without talking about music, because songs play an important role in Burundian culture.
The artist Bangirimana also pointed out that Burundian music has its own identity, originality, accents and intonation, centred above all on the voice concentrated in the nasal orifice and in the throat at the level of the vocal cords, unlike foreign (Western) music where the voice comes out of the belly, adding that Burundian music also finds its originality in Kirundi language).
Bangirinama pointed out that since the advent of the new generation of musical artists, Burundian music has lost its identity because, he said, the emerging artists no longer want to follow in the footsteps of their elders. According to him, those artists have grown up under the influence of American, Kenyan, Tanzanian and Rwandan songs, and want to copy them, but in vain, thinking that the latter are better than Burundian songs.
He told them that they were wrong, that Burundian music is special, because in international competitions, Burundian artists have won trophies on several occasions thanks to the uniqueness of their music.
He also said that some of those artists despise Kirundi and prefer to sing in other languages, pointing out that even during broadcasts, Burundian artists mix languages thinking that is where they will be considered as stars and acquire great fame afterwards.
“Whether they sing or speak like Americans or Haitians, as long as they haven’t put the Burundian cultural stamp on their songs, they won’t get anywhere,” says Bangirinama, adding that you can’t beat a foreigner in competition when you’ve imitated his style and techniques. He advised them to take inspiration from Burundian singer Khadja Nin, the only Burundian star he believes to have succeeded in shining on the international stage thanks to the uniqueness of her music, which is 100% Burundian.
The artist Bangirimana advised anyone working in the Burundian music industry to be motivated by a spirit of patriotism and to research the requirements for music to be called Burundian. He also reminded them to approach old musicians who are still alive to draw on their knowledge, with the aim of regaining the originality and identity of Burundi’s own music.
In his view, old songs and cultural clubs could also serve as inspiration for those young artists.
In his opinion, appearing as Burundian would enhance the value of Burundian artists more than if they appeared under a foreign image.