Inspired by the "40 Martyrs of Buta": Tujenge Scholars Embrace Unity

In Korerwa Burundi, we hold a deep appreciation for the value of learning from the experiences and stories of others, as well as sharing our own perspectives on the world. This commitment drives us to examine our social norms and explore our roots, all in the pursuit of understanding how we can contribute to a better future for everyone.

Tujenge scholars in Rumonge."

On June 14th, we had the honor of welcoming Priest Bukuru Zacharie to the Tujenge Scholars Program doors. He is the Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery of Buta and the author of "Les quarante jeunes martyrs de Buta." That book details vital insights into a dark chapter in our history, a tragic event which happened on April 30, 1997, when armed rebels attacked the Buta seminary in Bururi.

The book "Les quarante jeunes martyrs de Buta."

The panel aimed to prepare for a study trip which was ultimately going to happen in July to the seminary of Buta. Priest Zacharie shared his journey from high school to his calling in the priesthood, which subsequently led him to become both the minister of the gospel and headmaster at the Buta seminary.
To introduce the lecture, he began with a brief overview of the chaotic scramble and fear that reigned in Burundi during the time which followed the transition from a monarchy regime to a republic regime and how the geopolitical dynamics played a significant role in the distortion and aggravation of the situation in Burundi - fueled by the ethnic divisions, emanating from the colonial period.

Priest Bukuru Zacharie

In the midst of this chaotic ethnic conflict, Priest Zacharie recognized his role and duty, as a servant of God, to lead people towards fraternity. He initiated discussions on the attitudes necessary for everyone on campus—students, teachers, and staff all together—to adopt during these challenging times, stressing the importance of reconciliation, understanding, and the Christian principle of loving one’s neighbor regardless of superficial differences.

To achieve this, he put into place frequent collective activities on campus in order to bring them together through various activities such as sport, dialogue sessions, and community service. These initiatives aimed to build connections among students, while promoting spiritual growth through prayer and Bible study. He encouraged students to join clubs that would strengthen friendships and discourage division, creating a safe space for dialogue about their experience with ethnicity. This openness allowed students to confront their biases and cultivate a sense of understanding and a sense of community that celebrated their diversity. 

This approach had really remarkable results because the seminary was among the few schools in Burundi that succeeded in maintaining its student body and continuing its program. Teachers continued to provide lessons and resources as usual, while most other schools were forced to close their programs for fear and tensions that were rising among citizens.

On the early morning of April 30, 1997 when the civil war in Burundi was at its climax, a group of armed rebels entered  the Buta seminary and they ordered students to separate by ethnicity so they could kill the group they considered their enemies. However, the students refused, stating that they were all one and sons of God. After some futile attempts to force them separate the rebels opened fire on all  the students, killing 40 and wounding others.

The lecture was concluded by a session of Q&A where students got the opportunity to ask very pertinent questions to the visitor of the day.

In class to the Tujenge Scholars Program

One question raised was seeking to know what was the aftermath reaction of parents after the massacre. Priest Zacharie responded by explaining how the school communicated and gained trust from parents by demonstrating its position and attitude through meetings with them during the crisis. Parents did not object because they felt their children were in good hands. Another piece of evidence is that, even after the massacre, no parents requested that the bodies be returned home; instead they were all buried together in the same place in Buta.

Another question was raised about why Buta was specifically targeted and how Priest Zacharie, as the headmaster of the school, found peace after the tragedy. He explained that one of the reasons the school was attacked was to recruit young, abled individuals from a specific ethnic group to join the rebellion movement and exterminate the other group. He also addressed false claims which were circulating that the school housed munitions, which he confirmed were untrue. 

Regarding the last question, he shared that the only thing that allowed him to find inner peace was his faith in the cleaning power of Jesus' sacrifice,  which gave him the strength to forgive any lingering hatred.

Tujenge Scholars cohort 7 with Priest Bukuru Zacharie

In closing, Priest Zacharie encouraged attendees to reflect on how even small choices can foster change and how embracing our diversity can lead to greater harmony rather than conflict. He ended the panel with a prayer of blessing for all the students.

TRIP TO BUTA : JULY 1 & 2, 2024

The trip was set to last for two days. We departed on the 1st July, together with the director of Tujenge Scholars Program, staff members, and scholars (Cohort 5, 6, 7 & 8 represented).

Everyone was excited about the life changing experience that we were going to have. Upon arrival at the Buta Seminary, we had a chance to take a tour around the school compound, directed by an alumnus of the school and the survivor of what happened on the tragic day. The latter offered us an informative and detailed narrative of what happened in the nightmarish morning of the 30th April 1997. The tour offered to everyone the opportunity to relive the moment and witness with our own eyes marks of bullet holes in walls which still recite the melancholic orchestra of bangs of gunfire.

After the tour, we took time to pay tribute to those young deceased near the graveyard where those martyrs were buried:

- Learning what it took those innocent young children who had almost the same age as each one of us.

- Reflecting on the zeal and bravery that animated these young students who were champions of unity and love even though it cost them the loss of their lives.

The graveyard

In the evening, we heard testimonies from two survivors of that event, and with the Priest Zacharie himself who was the headmaster of the school. Finally, we got into small groups discussion where different groups came out with a consensus and take-outs of the field trip and more about what should be the attitude in building a more united Burundi. 

On the morning of July 2nd, we embarked on an early morning hike to explore the foggy mountains surrounding the school. That hike was more than just a journey through nature, but also it was a journey inward, full of lessons to reflect more on oneself and our agency in the world.

- Eric Nkurunziza: “The trip offered me an opportunity to learn the story of martyrs in-depth. l learned how those 40 young men, like my generation, stood together for something great - fraternity -, refusing to betray each other for ethnic ideologies. That was quite inspirational to me.

My takeaway was that if we stand together, steady and lifting each other, we will be able to accomplish great things, regardless of our physical or nonphysical differences. This meant to me the power of accepting others and the acknowledgment that we are all the same, no matter. ”

- Shalom Iteriteka: “Seeing the survivors who faced so much hate yet chose to give so much love, shattered my heart in a million pieces. It resonated with me in a sense that we should all choose to become agents of peace regardless of the circumstances. ...

The Burundian government should put more emphasis on teaching young Burundians the history of their country, because knowing where one came from allows self-awareness and helps to chart a brighter future ahead.”

- “Hearing first-account testimonies from the students who were there during that period was valuable. The hike to the hills and back was useful as we explored more the context of the surroundings in which the attack took place, and well, just being able to meditate over the lives of the souls that lay in the tombs was valuable. It made me realize that standing for what one believes is right even at the cost of one's own life is real, and it was tangible as we stood in the room they were killed in and by their tombs.

Listening to the witnesses and further talks after that, I learned that even with a shared experience,  people may still have different perspectives about the context, or rather, different comfortability being transparent about the actual recounting of the happenings. It pushed me to realize that I still need to dig deeper to see a second viewpoint, but also that ethnic conflict isn't one to put boundaries on the brotherhood of Burundians, and that it does not take leaders and people in government to make this realization possible, but individuals, such as students in a local boarding school.”

- Thierry Butoyi: “Normally ethnicity is not a reason to fight with your brothers and sisters, but Africans were so naive in the past and colonizers saw that loophole and ignited a smart division. I'm confident the more educated Africans will be, the less this ethnic conflict will have a hold in their society and Africa as a whole.”

- Marc Arsene Iradukunda: “The most valuable part of the trip to me was the reflection part after testimonies from the survivors. It was interesting hearing what others took away and also sharing mine.... 

The trip gave me another perspective on how we can use education to solve this ethnic conflict. We can take example from the success of Priest Zacharie in teaching students to stay together and implement those values in our Burundian education. ”

As highlighted by participants, education is a crucial powerful tool for unity that would help young Burundians to develop a stronger connection to their heritage, promoting self-awareness which is vital for building a better future. Understanding our origins enables reflection on past mistakes, learning from them, and making changes in the present. This foundational knowledge would not only reinforce national identity but also motivate the youth to strive for a more united and prosperous Burundi.

Tujenge Scholars cohort 7 & 8 with the staff and some scholars from other cohorts

Many thanks to everyone who made the trip possible, none of this would be possible without your generous support. 

Korerwa Y’all.