The groups of drummers from the ”Amabano Legacy” and ”Ruciteme Culture” cultural clubs are respectively accused by the Ministry in charge of culture of allowing themselves to exhibit themselves by distorting the Burundian drum dance and wearing uniforms. neglected with strangers. “The Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and
The groups of drummers from the ”Amabano Legacy” and ”Ruciteme Culture” cultural clubs are respectively accused by the Ministry in charge of culture of allowing themselves to exhibit themselves by distorting the Burundian drum dance and wearing uniforms. neglected with strangers.
“The Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture suspends within six months the group of drummers ”Amabano Legacy” for the exhibition of the Burundian drum”, can we read in a correspondence dated July 15, 2022 signed by Minister Ambassador Ezéchiel Nibigira. It was addressed to the legal representative of the group ”Amabano Legacy”.
He explains that it is his duty to protect, preserve and safeguard the Burundian religious heritage against any form of devaluation.
Ditto for the club ”Ruciteme Culture” in its correspondence to its legal representative on the same date. In an event called ”Tayaya” organized by Brarudi on July 2, 2022, the group ”Amabano Legacy” consumed beer in full exhibition while ”Ruciteme Culture” showed off in shorts , pants and t-shirt dated June 19, 2022. According to the Minister responsible for culture, this does not respect the sacred principles of the emblematic dance of Umurisho w’ingoma.
Throughout the period of suspension, no member of the two groups of drummers will be authorized to participate in cultural activities or associate with other associations or actors of a Burundian cultural nature.
“Our talents will regress during these six months”, regrets a young drummer from the group ”Amabano Legacy” interviewed.
According to him, the gesture which is at the origin of the sanctions is that of drinking beer during the dance.
“We just wanted to be creative, there was no intention to distort the drum dance,” he defends himself on condition of anonymity. It asks the ministry in charge of culture to popularize the regulation of the exploitation of the drum at the level of all the cultural clubs exercising in Burundi. Eric Nsengiyumva, president of the ”Amabano Legacy” club, declined to comment.
As a reminder, the group of drummers of the troupe Amagaba has also been under sanctions since February 2022.