How it began
In the precolonial kingdom of Burundi the drums were sacred objects of the monarchy and far more than musical instruments. The karyenda was the main symbol of the kingdom and of its king, the mwami, and had semi-divine status. The mwami was said to interpret its beats into rules for the kingdom. The second drum in rank, the rukinzo, accompanied the king wherever he went.
The drums were kept in sanctuaries on high places that were also centers of political and religious power, among them Gishora and Higiro hills near Gitega. How far back the tradition goes is not precisely documented.
How it works
Each sanctuary enthroned a sacred drum, guarded by attendants, alongside minor drums and a set played with the main ones. The sanctuaries were kept mainly by Hutu families, the only people the king allowed to make, play and keep the drums or bring them to court. They were called abatimbo, drummers "who hit hard".
The drums announced coronations, royal funerals and weddings, and marked the king's rising and retiring. They were central to the umuganuro, the annual sorghum festival. The performance as described by UNESCO combines powerful, synchronized drumming with dancing, heroic poetry and traditional songs.
What lasted
When Burundi became independent from Belgium in 1962, the karyenda appeared at the center of the national flag and on the coat of arms, and King Mwambutsa IV founded royal orders named for the karyenda and the rukinzo. The symbol was removed after the monarchy fell in 1966 and the republic was established. Court ceremonies waned from then on, and especially after the massacres of 1972. The families who had been wardens of the drums kept the practice alive, and ensembles such as the Royal Drummers of Burundi took it to international audiences.
Where it stands today
UNESCO inscribed the ritual dance of the royal drum on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. The drumming is performed at national and local feasts and to welcome important visitors, and it is said to awaken the spirits of the ancestors and drive out evil spirits. The dance, its values and the specialized drum-making skills are passed on mainly through practice and also through formal education. UNESCO describes it as a means of bringing people of different generations and origins together.
