Burundian drumming performances are a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Burundian drumming performances are one of the Things About Burundi You Should Know. In this landlocked east African country, drums are banged to honor life. Drummers use the Burundian flag colors of white, red, and green, and their performances may be observed in several regions of the nation, particularly in Bujumbura. Visitors can observe them during rehearsals or formal events. You may also go to Gishora Drum Site in Gitega Province (Central Burundi), which is a traditional drumming location where ancient and new drums are maintained in traditional houses.

The royal drum ceremonial dance is a show that combines forceful, coordinated drumming with dancing, heroic poetry, and traditional music. Burundi's whole population sees it as an important part of its tradition and identity. The dance requires at least a dozen or so drums set in a semicircle around a central drum, usually in an odd number. Several are hammered in a continuous rhythm, while the others follow the center drum's beat. The beat is then performed by two or three drummers. Drumming rituals are done during national or local feasts to welcome important visitors and are thought to awaken ancestral spirits and drive out bad spirits.

Bearers are recruited from sanctuaries around the country, with many descended from drum sanctuary guards. The royal drum's ritual dance, the ideals it represents, and the specific drum-making talents are passed down mostly via practice, but also through formal instruction. Today, the royal drum ceremonial dance provides an opportunity to impart cultural, political, and social themes, as well as a privileged way of bringing people of all generations and backgrounds together, so boosting unity and social cohesion.