Islam is a minorityreligion in Burundi where approximately 90 percent of the national population are followers ofChristianity. Between 2–5 percent of the population identifies as Muslim, according to a 2010 estimate by theUnited States Department of State.[1] The same year, thePew Research Centre estimated that there were 230,000 Muslims in Burundi, equivalent to 2.8 percent of Burundi's 8.4 million inhabitants.[2]
Islam first arrived in Burundi from theEast African coast with Arab traders in the late 19th century.[3] The Arabs were prevented from entering theKingdom of Burundi by a successful campaign of resistance led bymwami (king)Mwezi IV Gisabo.[3] However, they did establish settlements atUjiji andUvira close to the country's current borders.[3] The number of Muslims in Burundi increased underGerman colonial rule (1894–1916) and the German administration favoured the use ofKiswahili, spoken mostly by the Muslim population, overKirundi. By the outbreak ofWorld War I, Usumbura (nowBujumbura) had a population which was majority Muslim.[3] The religion declined underBelgian colonial rule (1916–62) as a result of the spread ofChristianity (especiallyCatholicism) andurbanisation which brought non-Muslim Burundians into the cities.[3]
Today the Muslim population is strongly urbanised and focused in Bujumbura, especially in thecommunes (districts) of Buyenzi andBwiza, as well as the towns ofGitega,Rumonge,Nyanza,Muyinga, andMakamba. The great majority areSunni while a small minority areShia andIbadi.[1][3] Most are Kiswahili speakers although they may speak othernational languages as well.[3] Native Burundian Muslims belong to both of the country's major ethnic groups (Hutu andTutsi) and largely avoided becoming involved in theBurundian genocides and other inter-ethnic violence since independence.[3] However, a significant proportion of the community are recent immigrants to the country fromWest Africa, theDemocratic Republic of the Congo, theMiddle East, andPakistan.[3]
The Republic of Burundi isofficially secular but several Muslim festivals, includingEid ul-Fitr andEid al-Adha, are celebrated asnational holidays alongside Christian observances.[1] Despite being only a small proportion of the national population, Muslims are represented in senior positions in Burundian politics and society, especially since the end of theBurundian Civil War.[4]
Media related toIslam in Burundi at Wikimedia Commons
