Air Burundi
The Royal Drummers of Burundi sure know how to put on a performance. The performance has been the same for centuries and is as much about the drumming as it is the dancing and jumping. The performers rotate through playing the drums, balancing giant drums on their head, jumping ridiculously high while showcasing their flexibility, and occasionally resting. Not only is the performance extremely physical, but the drumming is great with irresistible beats.
Burundi, a small nation in East Africa is not the most well known and frankly, not the most popular tourist destination. For decades the country was plagued by one conflict or another and subjected to poor governance. While the situation has been improving in recent years, it remains one of the absolute poorest countries in the world. Many Burundians live on such little income it can be hard to comprehend if you come from a developed country.
The drummers are based in the Gishora drum sanctuary, located 7km (4.3mi) from Gitega, the political capital of the country. Gitega was the historical capital of Burundi over the last several centuries, but in modern times the largest and economic capital of the country, Bujumbura was also the political capital. It was only in 2019 that Gitega once again became the political capital.
