The Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in China has announced that the first-ever Burundi Cultural Week in China will be held in Beijing from June 28 to July 1, 2026, under the theme “When the Sacred Drums of Burundi Strengthen Sino-African Cultural Ties.”

H.E. Télesphore Irambona, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to China, unveiled the program at a press conference held at the Burundian Embassy in Beijing. He noted that the Cultural Week comes at a meaningful moment, as 2026 marks the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchange between China and Africa, as well as the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries.

“Culture brings people closer together and strengthens trust between them,” Ambassador Irambona said. “Peace and stability create the conditions for investment, the foundation of shared and sustainable prosperity.”

The Cultural Week will feature four main activities. Traditional Burundian drummers and dancers will perform at several venues in Beijing, bringing the sacred drum of Burundi — Ingoma, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — to Chinese audiences. The performances will also highlight the dialogue between Burundian and Chinese drum cultures, presenting rhythm as a shared language of unity and friendship.

On June 29, a conference on Burundi’s model of consociational democracy will be held at the Embassy of Burundi. The event will present Burundi’s experience in crisis resolution, national reconciliation, and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as the country’s efforts to build lasting peace and contribute to peacekeeping beyond its borders.

An investment forum will follow on July 1 at the China World Hotel, introducing opportunities in key sectors including agribusiness, mining and natural resources, tourism, the digital economy, infrastructure, and renewable energy. The forum will also connect these opportunities with Burundi’s Vision 2040–2060 development strategy.

The Cultural Week will conclude with the celebration of Burundi’s 64th Independence Day, also at the China World Hotel, featuring traditional drumming and dance performances. The celebration will mark Burundi’s journey since independence and its continued pursuit of peace, stability, and development.

Ambassador Irambona described Burundi as a country undergoing profound transformation — one that has turned the page on past conflicts and is now pursuing development in a climate of stability and reconciliation. He emphasized that Burundi is no longer only a beneficiary of international solidarity, but also an active contributor to global peace and security, counterterrorism, sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate resilience.

“Burundi is a peaceful, stable, and resolutely forward-looking nation, open to mutually beneficial partnerships and investments,” the Ambassador said, calling on the media to help raise international awareness of a transformed Burundi.