Vibrant Holiday Safaris takes you through Gishora Drum sanctuary which 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 memoir for the victory earned.
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 and periods prior. 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.
Burundi as a country has many clans within and they are bound by the drumming ceremonies that are conducted throughout different seasons within the year. Burundi citizens believe that the drumming ceremonies help improve on their unity within their land and this is the main reason why the sanctuary exists because it’s the very ground where the drumming ceremonies are carried out and the fact that it is believed to be a sacred place makes it worth the respect among the elderly and the youngsters.
Location of Gishora Drum Sanctuary
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 to the sanctuary or even opt to use public buses.
What is unique about this 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.
One of the factors that sets it apart is the fact that the drum sanctuary preserves the ancient artistic drums that were used in the traditional rituals. The royal drums have a distinct physique in that they are big, tall and have attractive artistic designs on their exterior. However, the powerful sound they produce stands out as a major distinct characteristic.
Traditional dances that are performed within the sanctuary by the local citizens continuously make the drum sanctuary unique from the rest of the historical places in Burundi. The dances are performed by the locals with the aim of uniting all citizens 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 at Gishora Drum sanctuary have distinct features that make them unique from the rest of the drums. Because they are made of sacred wood from trees related to Burundi spirits. These spirits are the cordia Africana, also called “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. It is one of the historical places to educate citizens about religion. Also, traditional drumming which helps elders to pass on skills to the next generations. It also keeps the culture in practice and alive. A specific set of law enacted by the government in 2007 protect the drumming ceremonies. This was to ensure that it’s peaceful and carried out within the law.
Attractions
There are various attractions at the drum sanctuary incorporating the long drums.
The indigenous homesteads of Burundians (the grass thatched huts) further form a section of attraction that tourists really enjoy. The experience of being in a Hut attracts many people. More so the visitors who have grown up in first World cities with skyscrapers.
The local people are an attraction in their own form due to the way they perform their duties in society. And also how they selflessly share their way of life which is such an interesting phenomenon to experience.
Local dressing attire that the local people put on is an attraction too. All this in conjunction with the cultural dances performed at the sanctuary make the place worth a visit.
Activities done at Gishora drum sanctuary in Burundi
Cultural dances. The Burundi Citizens perform the cultural dances. 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. They represent the way of life of the ancient Burundi people. Furthermore, visitors to the sanctuary get the chance to view how the ancient Burundians lived their life in the huts. In addition, they also 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. Similarly to those of their ancestors while at the sanctuary.
Visitors can also enjoy Photography and sightseeing at the sanctuary. It sits on top of a hill that gives breathtaking views of the surroundings Gitega and Bujumbura towns.
Best time to visit
Gishora drum sanctuary is active from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. Therefore, you can visit all year round. It is however important for visitors to book the entertainers in advance for sensational and uninterrupted performances.
For visits to Gishora Drum Sanctuary, contact Vibrant Holiday Safaris at vibrantholidaysafaris@gmail.com. You can as well check out our website at www.vibrantholidaysafaris.com for amazing offers.