In Belgium, the Burundian Ambassador, Mr. Ntahiraja Thérence, welcomed a university delegation from Burundi. This group, led by Mr. Manirabona Audace, the Rector of the University of Burundi, traveled to Belgium to discuss educational cooperation with Belgian authorities and meet with the Burundian diaspora.

The University of Burundi was established in 1964, at a time when a neocolonial state was being shaped by influences from the United States, the Vatican, France, and Belgium. However, its roots go back to the colonial era. In 1958, during Belgian administration, Jesuits started this educational project in Astrida (now Butare in Rwanda). It was then linked to the universities of the Belgian Congo and Rwanda-Urundi.

The Burundian delegation visited Belgium, the country that once colonized Burundi, to strengthen educational cooperation. Their trip also included a planned meeting with the Burundian diaspora in Belgium. Most of this diaspora consists of former students who studied under the neocolonial system that has been in place since 1962. As a result, many members still carry the influence of this historical context.

Post-Colonial Reflections

Among Burundi’s intellectuals, there is ongoing discussion about how to balance the colonial past with Burundi’s cultural and traditional heritage. This post-colonial reflection focuses on two main aspects:

1. Cultural and Traditional Aspects – Including Kamitism, a movement that seeks to reconnect with African ancestral knowledge.

2. Historical and Decolonial Perspectives – Analyzing the impact of colonial history and how to move forward.

Burundi, an ancient African nation known as Ingoma y’Uburundi, has a rich society based on Ubungoma (a cosmological belief system) and Ubuntu (a philosophy of humanism). The country’s political system, Ingoma, and its socio-economic model, Ubumu, reflect deep historical roots.

As Burundi continues to engage with Belgium in education, it also looks inward to reclaim its identity and rethink its historical legacy. The discussions held during this visit contribute to shaping the future of education and culture in Burundi.