National Museum of Gitega

The national museum at Gitega was founded in 1955 and holds the country's main ethnographic and historical collection: royal regalia from the Burundian monarchy, drums, basketry, weapons, agricultural tools and photographs of the colonial period. Gitega was the royal capital and is now the political capital, and the museum sits in the middle of it. The collection is modest but it is the principal one in the country. A second museum in Bujumbura holds the geological and natural history collections, and the two together make up the national holdings.

Background

In Kirundi the museum is called Iratiro ry'akaranga k'Uburundi, and in French the Musée National de Gitega. It was set up in 1955 to keep objects of Burundian folk culture that were fading as modern life and social change spread. It is the largest of the country's public museums, yet its whole collection is shown in a single room. Shortage of money has meant few new acquisitions in recent years, and in 2014 it averaged 20 to 50 visitors per week. A catalogue of the collection, Le Patrimoine Burundais: le Musée de Gitega, was published in 2015 with support from the German Embassy in Burundi.

Source: Wikipedia, "National Museum of Gitega"

The main sights

• The royal regalia - the objects of the Burundian monarchy.
• The drums - the instruments central to the country's ceremonial tradition.
• The basketry - the woven work Burundi is known for.
• The 1955 foundation - the country's principal museum collection.

When to go

June to September is the dry season and easiest for travel. The museum keeps set hours and closes on some days. Mornings are cooler in Gitega.

Things to know

The collection is small and the displays are dated. Labelling is largely in French. An hour or two covers it.

Nearby

Gishora is northeast, and Bujumbura is west.

Key facts