Bujumbura

Bujumbura
Bujumbura. Lake Tanganyika is in the background
Bujumbura
Coordinates: 3°23′S 29°22′E / 3.383°S 29.367°E / -3.383; 29.367Coordinates: 3°23′S 29°22′E / 3.383°S 29.367°E / -3.383; 29.367
Country  Burundi
Province Bujumbura Mairie Province
Founded 1871
Government
 • Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa
Area
 • City 86.52 km2 (33.41 sq mi)
Elevation 774 m (2,539 ft)
Population (2008 census)
 • City 497,166
 • Density 2,720.6/km2 (7,046/sq mi)
 • Metro 800,000
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (none)
Climate Aw
Website www.mairiebujumbura.gov.bi

Bujumbura (/ˌbuːdʒəmˈbʊərə/; French pronunciation: ​[byʒœ̃byʁa]), (formerly Usumbura), is the capital, largest city, and main port of Burundi. It ships most of the country's chief export, coffee, as well as cotton and tin ore. It is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.

The city center is a colonial town with a large market, the national stadium, a large mosque, and the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Bujumbura. Museums in the city include the Burundi Museum of Life and the Burundi Geological Museum. Other nearby attractions include the Rusizi National Park, the Livingstone-Stanley Monument at Mugere (where David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley visited 14 days after their first historic meeting at Ujiji in Tanzania), the presidential palace and the source of the southernmost tributary of the Nile, described locally as the source of the Nile.

Ferries sail from Bujumbura to Kigoma in Tanzania. The city is home to the Bujumbura International Airport and the University of Burundi.

History

Bujumbura grew from a small village after it became a military post in German East Africa in 1889. After World War I it was made the administrative center of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi. The name was changed from Usumbura to Bujumbura when Burundi became independent in 1962. Since independence, Bujumbura has been the scene of frequent fighting between the country's two main ethnic groups, with Hutu militias opposing the Tutsi-dominated Burundi army. Bujumbura today stands as an undeveloped city but remains to develop with its country.

2014 jogging ban

According to the BBC, Bujumbura residents are known for their "tradition of Saturday morning runs started during Burundi's long years of ethnic conflict." Because the surrounding hills were home to armed militants before 2005, Bujumbura residents "would try to vent their fear and frustration and claustrophobia, by running, often in a group."[1]

In March 2014, President Pierre Nkurunziza banned jogging, due to "fears it was being used as a cover for subversion."[1] That same month, twenty-one opposition supporters were sentenced to life in prison for using "jogging" as a way to organize "an illegal demonstration that turned violent."[2] As of June 2014 in Bujumbura, "the authorities have since restricted jogging clubs to certain areas. All sports must now take place in nine parks in Bujumbura and other designated football pitches."[2]

Geography

Bujumbura panorama

Administration

Bujumbura is governed by a community council and community administrator. It is further divided into 13 communes, or neighborhoods, each with its own council and boss.[3]

Climate

Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[4] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its wet season is from October through April, while the dry season covers the remaining five months. Despite being located close to the equator, Bujumbura is not nearly as warm as one might expect, due to its altitude. Average temperatures are constant throughout the course of the year with the high temperature at around 29 °C (84 °F) and the low temperature at around 19 °C (66 °F).

Climate data for Bujumbura (1961–1990, extremes 1950–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.6
(94.3)		 35.0
(95)		 34.0
(93.2)		 35.0
(95)		 32.0
(89.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 33.0
(91.4)		 33.0
(91.4)		 33.8
(92.8)		 34.3
(93.7)		 33.8
(92.8)		 34.8
(94.6)		 35.0
(95)
Average high °C (°F) 29.1
(84.4)		 29.7
(85.5)		 29.3
(84.7)		 29.2
(84.6)		 29.9
(85.8)		 29.9
(85.8)		 29.2
(84.6)		 30.0
(86)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.1
(86.2)		 29.1
(84.4)		 28.9
(84)		 29.6
(85.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23.9
(75)		 23.9
(75)		 23.9
(75)		 23.9
(75)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.3
(75.7)		 25.2
(77.4)		 25.1
(77.2)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.9
(75)		 24.0
(75.2)
Average low °C (°F) 19.2
(66.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 19.3
(66.7)		 19.6
(67.3)		 19.1
(66.4)		 17.6
(63.7)		 17.2
(63)		 17.4
(63.3)		 18.6
(65.5)		 19.1
(66.4)		 19.1
(66.4)		 19.1
(66.4)		 18.7
(65.7)
Record low °C (°F) 14.0
(57.2)		 15.4
(59.7)		 14.7
(58.5)		 15.1
(59.2)		 16.2
(61.2)		 13.9
(57)		 11.8
(53.2)		 13.0
(55.4)		 14.3
(57.7)		 14.0
(57.2)		 15.9
(60.6)		 15.0
(59)		 11.8
(53.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 100.3
(3.949)		 85.7
(3.374)		 117.5
(4.626)		 111.9
(4.406)		 56.6
(2.228)		 8.9
(0.35)		 2.7
(0.106)		 13.4
(0.528)		 33.0
(1.299)		 59.0
(2.323)		 97.1
(3.823)		 99.6
(3.921)		 785.7
(30.933)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 16 19 18 18 10 2 1 2 8 15 19 19 147
Average relative humidity (%) 77 75 78 79 76 67 63 60 62 68 76 77 72
Mean monthly sunshine hours 167.4 158.2 176.7 165.0 210.8 255.0 272.8 251.1 213.0 189.1 150.0 164.3 2,373.4
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.4 5.6 5.7 5.5 6.8 8.5 8.8 8.1 7.1 6.1 5.0 5.3 6.5
Source #1: World Meteorological Organization,[5] Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1953–1990 and sun, 1951–1990)[6]
Source #2: Climate-Data.org (daily mean temperatures),[4]

Economy

See also: Economy of Bujumbura (fr)

Central market

Bujumbura's central market is in the City Centre, along Rwagasore Avenue. During the city's heavy periods of war in 1972 and 1993, as citizens had become less likely to travel far from the City Centre, markets in neighboring communities lost their business to the central market in Bujumbura. Consequently, vendors moved their business to the central market, many settling outside the market due to lack of space. However, the central market houses the largest variety of merchandise in the city, with stores that sell everything from food and sweets, to new and used clothing, shoes and consumer goods such as soap, detergent, school supplies and household accessories.

On the dawn of January 27, 2013 a serious fire ravaged Bujumbura's central market.[7] Due to poor emergency response, the fire lasted for hours, resulting in a serious blow to local exchanges. Hundreds of vendors, local and foreign, lost their goods to the fire and the reported looting.[8] While Burundi's emergency services were unable to extinguish the blaze on their own, neighboring Rwanda sent helicopters to assist in the emergency response.[9]

Tourism

Bujumbura's main attractions consist of its many beaches, parks and monuments. Some of the most popular attractions are:

Politics

List of mayors of Bujumbura
  • Gérard Kibinakanwa, 1962-1967[10]
  • Thérence Ndikumasabo, 1967-1969
  • Pie Kanyoni, 1969-1975 and 1976-1977
  • Charles Kabunyoma, 1976
  • Juvénal Madirisha, 1977-1979
  • Germain Nkwirikiye, 1979-1981
  • Lucien Sakubu, 1981-1987
  • Léonidas Ndoricimpa, 1987-1991
  • Arthémon Mvuyekure, 1991-1992
  • Anatole Kanyenkiko, 1992-1993
  • Léonce Sinzinkayo, 1993-1994
  • Pie Ntiyankundiye, 1994-2002
  • Pontien Niyongabo, 2002-2005
  • Célestin Sebutama, 2005-2007
  • Elias Buregure, 2007
  • Evrard Giswaswa, circa 2008-2012[11]
  • Saidi Juma, circa 2012[12]
  • Freddy Mbonimpa, circa 2017

Sports

Bujumbura is the location for the city's multisport Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium. Mainly used for Football (Soccer) games, it is the country's largest stadium with 22,000 seats.

The city is also home to multiple Basketball and Tennis courts, as well as a multitude of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Infrastructure

Students at the University of Burundi

The University of Burundi is in Bujumbura, as are Hope Africa University and Université du Lac Tanganyika.

International schools:

Transport

The Bujumbura bus station

The Bujumbura International Airport is situated on the outskirts of the city.

Public transport in Bujumbura mainly consists of taxis and mini-buses, locally known as the Hiace. Public transport vehicles generally have a generic white and blue paint job.

Bujumbura's taxis are abundant all over the city, and are considered the safest form of transportation. They are relatively cheap, ranging from 1500-10000 Burundian Francs (approx. $1–$6.50 USD),[13] although taxi drivers are always willing to negotiate. Even cheaper options are the city's taxi-motos (motorcycle taxis) and taxis-vélos (bicycle taxis), although they are only available in certain parts of the city.

For long distance travels, locals prefer to take the many Hiace full-size vans, which travel regularly across Burundi. Bujumbura's main bus terminal is located by the Central Market.

Health and medicine

Bujumbura is also home to many clinics and the province's main hospitals: the Prince Regent Charles Hospital, the Roi Khaled Hospital, and the Military Hospital.

Culture and Arts

Bujumbura was also home of the independent weekly radio program Imagine Burundi, the country's first locally produced English-language program that focused on stories about life in the region. Segments included restaurant reviews and clips with job advice for students and young professionals. The show ran from September 2010 to August 2013 on 99.3 CCIB in Bujumbura, and recordings are archived on the show's website at imagineburundi.com.[14]

See also

  • Bujumbura portal

References

  1. 1 2 Franks, Tim (2014-06-15). "Burundi: Where jogging is a crime". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  2. 1 2 "Burundi MSD opposition 'joggers' get life sentences". BBC News. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  3. ↑ L’administration de la Municipalité de Bujumbura, official city website Archived February 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. 1 2 "Bujumbura - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  5. ↑ "World Weather Information Service - Bujumbura". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Klimatafel von Bujumbura (Usambara) / Burundi" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  7. ↑ Burundi: vaste incendie au marché central de Bujumbura Radio France internationale, 27 janvier 2013
  8. ↑ Incendie au marché central de Bujumbura: des Sénégalais dans la désolation Agoravox, 25 Février 2013
  9. ↑ Rwandan Helicopters Extinguish Fire in Bujumbura Market "IGIHE", 27 janvier, 2013
  10. ↑ "Succession à la tête de la Mairie de Bujumbura". Villedebujumbura.org (in French). Mairie de Bujumbura. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Burundi: le maire de Bujumbura absent à son procès", Rfi.fr (in French), 5 October 2011
  12. ↑ "Le sénat approuve 7 gouverneurs", Isanganiro.org (in French), Burundi, 25 October 2012
  13. ↑ Bujumbura ENJOY BURUNDI, 2011
  14. ↑ Imagine Burundi "Imagine Burundi", 1 juillet 2012

Bibliography

See also: Bibliography of the history of Bujumbura
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