Although many Burundians feel positive about the political shift in their country, some still hold skepticism about the sustainability of the current peace. The sound of gunfire may be rare today, but poverty is worsening, and for many, that is reason enough for renewed violence. President Nkurunziza has made some moves toward reconciliation, but his efforts to develop Burundi seem to be more talk than true action.
Elections will be held next year, in 2010, and most believe that there will be some level of tension. According to Fr. Claudio, it is already being called the "year of war." However, I do feel optimistic as I speak with youth who want nothing more than the absolution of political and ethnic strife.
We spoke with two elders today who have lived through a colonized Burundi, a prosperous Burundi, a war-torn Burundi, and now a Burundi that is struggling to find itself. Married, the two have a unique perspective on the war - one is Hutu, the other is Tutsi. Their children grew up knowing and loving both, and none of them could understand the rationale behind the violence. It is clear that politicians used the Hutu/Tutsi divide to gain power and authority.
Before the war, many neighborhoods around the Kamenge Youth Center were mixed, but in the mid-1990's, whichever tribe held the majority claimed the neighborhood, displacing the minority into another quarter. Only a couple of neighborhoods in Bujumbura remained neutral during the crisis, mostly due to the fact that they were predominantly foreigners (Tanzanians, Congolese, etc.) and/or Muslim. Gangs - most of them young men - in each neighborhood perpetuated the violence.
Interestingly, many of these gang members eventually joined the Kamenge Center. According to one Burundian, they killed until there was no one left to kill, and then found themselves drinking and getting high all day without purpose. They slowly trickled into the Center, scaring the other youth at first, but eventually recognizing that they could indeed live together peacefully.
But a lasting peace must be built on multiple levels. The elders we spoke with today believe that if there were 4 or 5 more Centers like the Centre Jeunes Kamenge, the threat of future violence would be drastically reduced. And although the reality of learning to live together may provide the best chance for peace, other elements must also be addressed. The International Center for Transitional Justice has a program on security sector reform, helping the police with technical details such as an identification process. Other NGO's hold dialogue sessions between victims and criminals to help bring people back together. The independent Burundian media (often supported by Search for Common Ground) host radio programs on the peace process, demobilization, land conflicts, and transitional justice.
Efforts toward reconciliation are being made at all levels, but it will take a more significant political, social, and economic shift to truly bring Burundi out of the threat of conflict.
Posted by Beth Tuckey
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Centre Jeunes Kamenge
The Kamenge Center sits in the middle of the northern neighborhoods (quarters) of Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. During the war in the 1990's, it became one of the only places where youth from different neighborhoods and tribes could come together as brothers and sisters.
Today, it serves over 31,000 young men and women and provides opportunities for learning, sports, and arts. Classes in fields such as English, Mathematics, and Computer Science draw those looking to enhance their knowledge base; a soccer field, basketball court, and weight room encourages the youth to exercise and play sport with one another; and classes in theatre, hip hop, and competitions in dance, singing, and poetry promote the importance of the arts in society. In so many developing countries, the resources for community programs are lacking - so the Center provides a much-needed gathering space and opportunities for youth to engage in productive activities.
One youth who used to come regularly to the Center is a musician. He would sing in competitions and would often win awards. Nearly all of his songs place an emphasis on peace, reconciliation, and justice. As a result, the President asked this young man to his house and now provides him some support as he continues to sing songs about Burundi's development.
In our interviews thus far, it has become clear that the ethnic and political tensions that were so prevalent a decade ago have largely faded. Nevertheless, the Kamenge Center continues to play an important role in peace and community reconciliation. During the war, there was a time when passing through a neighborhood to which you did not belong could result in your death. Fr. Claudio, the Xaverian Missionary who runs the Center, would open doors on different sides of the property, allowing youth to come into the Center without passing through a hostile neighborhood. Once there, they learned that there was no reason for the violence between tribes and that they could live together peacefully.
When asked, nearly everyone tells us that the Hutu/Tutsi distinctions are no longer relevant to life in Burundi. Some dislike discussing it because it shouldn't matter, others make a point to discuss it to prove that there are no ethnic barriers. One of the theatre teachers at the Center often includes comical dialogue about Hutus and Tutsis in his plays, reinforcing the notion that tribal distinctions should be seen in a positive light.
It certainly seems that the Kamenge Center is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of community support and reconciliation. As we continue to talk with community members and authorities in Burundi, we will make futher notes about the Center's work.
Posted by Beth Tuckey
Today, it serves over 31,000 young men and women and provides opportunities for learning, sports, and arts. Classes in fields such as English, Mathematics, and Computer Science draw those looking to enhance their knowledge base; a soccer field, basketball court, and weight room encourages the youth to exercise and play sport with one another; and classes in theatre, hip hop, and competitions in dance, singing, and poetry promote the importance of the arts in society. In so many developing countries, the resources for community programs are lacking - so the Center provides a much-needed gathering space and opportunities for youth to engage in productive activities.
One youth who used to come regularly to the Center is a musician. He would sing in competitions and would often win awards. Nearly all of his songs place an emphasis on peace, reconciliation, and justice. As a result, the President asked this young man to his house and now provides him some support as he continues to sing songs about Burundi's development.
In our interviews thus far, it has become clear that the ethnic and political tensions that were so prevalent a decade ago have largely faded. Nevertheless, the Kamenge Center continues to play an important role in peace and community reconciliation. During the war, there was a time when passing through a neighborhood to which you did not belong could result in your death. Fr. Claudio, the Xaverian Missionary who runs the Center, would open doors on different sides of the property, allowing youth to come into the Center without passing through a hostile neighborhood. Once there, they learned that there was no reason for the violence between tribes and that they could live together peacefully.
When asked, nearly everyone tells us that the Hutu/Tutsi distinctions are no longer relevant to life in Burundi. Some dislike discussing it because it shouldn't matter, others make a point to discuss it to prove that there are no ethnic barriers. One of the theatre teachers at the Center often includes comical dialogue about Hutus and Tutsis in his plays, reinforcing the notion that tribal distinctions should be seen in a positive light.
It certainly seems that the Kamenge Center is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of community support and reconciliation. As we continue to talk with community members and authorities in Burundi, we will make futher notes about the Center's work.
Posted by Beth Tuckey
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