Gishora Drum Sanctuary, Location, Facts, History, Activities
The drum sanctuary is always active from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. Therefore, you can visit it any day however, it’s better and of great importance for visitors to book the entertainers in advance for sensational and uninterrupted performances
Never Visited Gishora Drum Sanctuary in Burundi before?: Don’t miss out, get to witness this heart-pounding performance for yourself. Once reserved for important events in the old Burundian monarchy, locals and visitors alike can now watch “The Royal Drummers” of Burundi and enjoy this UNESCO Intangible Heritage by visiting the country’s region of Gishora (just a few miles away from Gitega) where their drum sanctuary is located.
Their hypnotic beating of the drums which is said to symbolize the form of a woman’s body can be experienced by booking a guided tour. The performances last for almost an hour and in the end, you can try your hand at making at pounding some beats as well!
Burundi is a country that has many clans within and they are bound by the drumming ceremonies that are conducted throughout different seasons within the year. The citizens believe that the drumming ceremonies help to improve on their unity within their land and this is the main reason why Gishora Drum Sanctuary exists. Historically, it was established by the last sovereign leader of Burundi known as King Mwami Mweza IV. The king was highly respected in society as he was at the top of the hierarchy of leadership in the pre-colonial Burundi. A legend has it that the sanctuary was formed in celebration of his victory over his counterpart, Chief Ntibirangwa as they were fighting for leadership. This competition was evident in the last quarter of the 19th century and after winning, this prompted the king to establish the Gishora drum sanctuary as a memory for the victory earned.
The sanctuary is nestled on top of the hill, approximately 7 kilometers from the town of Gitega. It is also paramount to highlight that it is just about 220 metres off Gitega – Ngozi road. The sanctuary can be accessed through Bujumbura city where travelers can board private cars or use public buses to the sanctuary.
The drum sanctuary is run by the local men called Abatimbo. The Abatimbo are the successors of the hereditary Abanyigisaka who were the religious leaders in the region back then in the 19th century. The Abatimbo are therefore the successors of the religious institutions throughout the country and take care of the sanctuary. They also had high-ranking positions in society and were entrusted with the authority to run the court system in the ancient Burundian society.
Facts/Activities of the drum sanctuary.
Gishora Drum Sanctuary has many grounds on which it prides itself as being unique from the rest of the sanctuaries within the region and historical museums.
The fact that the drum sanctuary preserves the ancient artistic drums that were used in the traditional rituals is one of the factors that sets it apart. The royal drums have a distinct physique in that they are big, tall and have attractive artistic designs on their exterior though the powerful sound they produce stands out as a major distinct characteristic. They are locally called Ingoma.
Traditional dances that are performed within the sanctuary by the local citizens continuously make the drum sanctuary unique and special from the rest of the historical places in Burundi. The dances are performed by the locals with the aim of uniting all the natives together. Watching the Burundians do their thing at this sanctuary is a moment one could tell for the rest of their lifetime because of the thrilling adventure it gives.
The drums kept at Gishora Drum sanctuary have distinct features that make them unique from the rest of the drums. They are made of sacred wood from the trees related to Burundi spirits known as the cordia Africana locally known as “Umuvugangoma, Markhania (Umusave)” and many other hardwood species. This therefore makes the drums durable and have been in existence since the 19th century.
The Gishora drum sanctuary is indeed a sacred place and is one of the historical places used to educate citizens about religion, traditional drumming which helps elders to pass on skills to the next generations and keeps the culture in practice and alive. The drumming ceremonies are protected by a specific set of laws that were enacted by the government in 2007 to ensure that it’s peaceful and carried out within the law.
When it comes to attractions, Burundi indigenous people homesteads that is; the grass thatched huts, local dressing attire, and their social life due to the way they perform their duties in society and selflessly share their way of life which is such an interesting phenomenon to experience. All these together with the cultural dances performed at the sanctuary make the place worth a visit.
Activities/Things To Do At The Sanctuary
Cultural dances. These are performed by the Burundi citizens who have been trained by their ancestors on how to perfectly entertain visitors in society and dance to their traditions.
Drumming. Drumming is such an iconic activity in the Society of Burundi. Local people drum for the visitors and also teach them how to drum their hereditary drums.
Visits to the huts. The well-built huts at the sanctuary are a symbol of power and represent the way of life of the ancient Burundi people. Visitors to the sanctuary get the chance to view how the ancient Burundi people used to live their life in the huts and get insights into the family system of the ancient Burundi society.
Storytelling is another activity that cannot miss mention. The Burundi natives normally tell stories to the visitors on how they live their life in a similar way with those of their ancestors while at the sanctuary.
Photography and sightseeing can also be enjoyed while at the sanctuary. The sanctuary sits on top of a hill that therefore gives the breathtaking views of the surroundings of the sanctuary in the towns of Gitega and Bujumbura.
In conclusion, the sanctuary is a great way to experience this aspect of Burundi culture as well as the architecture of a royal palace which is recreated here.
