PSYCHOLOGY SERVING THE NATION OF BURUNDI:
NEEDS AND CHALLENGES
By Julien Munganga Imani
mjulien@yahoo.fr
Vice CEO Hope and Health Vision/ Executive Secretary of "l'Association des
Etudiants Psychologues de l'UEA"
www.hopeandhealthvision.org
mjulienj@yahoo.fr/ mjulienimani@gmail.com
http://mjulienj.wordpress.com
Tel. + 257 78 886 751
PO Box 296 or 1602 Bujumbura-Burundi
Introduction
Since its break with philosophy, psychology continues its rapid expansion, which can be
explained by the fact that it has relevance to virtually all areas of life (including its political,
social, and religious dimensions). Far more than simple theory, the psychology of modernity
has an applied, practical side that can improve the quality of human life.
As was evident from the presentations at the recent International Congress of Psychology in
Cape Town, South Africa (ICP, 2012), psychology is at the service of humanity. More
specifically it may be utilized to serve the Burundian nation. This nation, for more than two
decades, has been marred by large-scale massacres.
Based on these realities, what can we say about psychology in Burundi? How does the
Burundian conceptualize the notion of psychology? Does Burundi really need psychology?
Does psychology really not exist in Burundi? If it were to be established, on what area or
areas should it focus most?
To address these issues, it is essential to understand Burundi as a country and as a full-fledged
nation.
Background of Burundi
Burundi is a country located in part of Central Africa, with 27 830 km2 of area. It is bordered
to the South-East by Tanzania, on the West by the Democratic Republic of Congo, and by
Rwanda to the North.
Population= 8 575.172 inhabitants
Natural growth rate= 3.70%
Life expectancy= 50.81 years
Official languages= Kirundi and French. We can add English and Swahili due to the
integration of Burundi into the East African Community. Apart from the East African
Community, Burundi is also among the countries of the African Great Lakes, owing to the
presence of the Tanganyika Lake, the world's second deepest lake (1470m) after Baikal
(1 637m).
Religion= About 60% of the population are Roman Catholic, 5% are Protestant, and about
10% are Muslim. The remaining people practice indigenous religions or have no religious
affiliation. The BAGAZA government regarded the Catholic Church as pro-Hutu and
restricted Masses, prohibited religious gatherings without prior approval, nationalized
Catholic schools, banned the Catholic youth movement, and shut down the Catholic radio
station and newspaper. The Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-Day Adventists were banned in
1986. Following BAGAZA'S ouster in September 1987, however, Maj. Pierre BUYOYA, the
new president (a Catholic), ended all restrictions on the Catholic Church. Currently, the
religious holidays which are officially observed are primarily Catholic. In 2002, the Jehovah's
Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists were once again reported as accepted missionary
groups. Freedom of religion has been constitutional established. Diplomatic status is granted
to the heads of major religious groups (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2012).
Burundi is a tri-ethnic country. It is predominantly Hutu (85%) followed by Tutsi (14%) and
Twa (1%). According to the International Human Indicator, this year, Burundi's Human
Development Index (HDI) is 0.316, which gives the country a rank of 185 out of 187
countries.
During the last two decades, Burundi has been immersed in an ethnic-political crisis. In 1993,
the first free multiparty elections in Burundi were organized since independence in 1962. The
victory of Melchior NDADAYE, a Hutu candidate of the FRODEBU party (Front for
Democracy in Burundi), highlights the conflict between the two major ethnic groups, the Hutu
and the Tutsi. The intergroup tensions have been an issue especially since the massacre of
200,000 Hutus by the Tutsi-controlled army in 1972. On 21 October 1993, there was a coup
led by the army (which consists mostly of Tutsis). NDADAYE and several members of
FRODEBU were killed.
This coup represents the beginning of the civil war in Burundi. As in neighboring Rwanda,
ethnic divisions in this small country were encouraged by the Belgian colonial authorities,
giving Tutsis privileged positions. An agreement in January 1994, under the aegis of the UN
established power-sharing between Hutus and Tutsis. CYPRIEN NTARYAMIRA, a Hutu,
became president. The death of CYPRIEN NTARYAMIRA in an attack of 6 April 1994 in
Rwanda complicated the peace process. In September, the Hutu SYLVESTRE
NTIBANTUNGANYA was appointed to the presidency. The ethnic massacres continued,
however, pushing into exile Hutus living in the capital Bujumbura. Soon after, the Tutsis
returned to power in two coups: in February 1995 and on 25 July 1996. PIERRE BUYOYA
became the president.
Over 550,000 citizens, or 9 percent of the population, have been displaced to neighboring
Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), some for as long as 6
years. Serious health, water, and malnutrition problems exist in many camps. Persons in the
hills without a camp were considered to be rebels and were killed or wounded by government
soldiers. Hutu rebels sometimes kill Hutus who remain outside the camps (Farmer & Talbot,
2001).
In June 1998, BUYOYA promulgated a transitional constitution and announced a partnership
between the government and the opposition-led national assembly. After facilitator Julius
NYERERE's death in October 1999, the regional leaders appointed NELSON MANDELA as
facilitator of the Arusha peace process. Under MANDELA, the faltering peace process was
revived and led to the signing of the Arusha Accords in August 2000 by representatives of the
principal Hutu (G-7) and Tutsi (G-10) political parties, the government, and the national
assembly. However, the FDD (Forces for the Defense of Democracy) and the NLF (National
Liberation Front) refused to accept the Arusha Accords and the armed rebellion continued. In
November 2001, a 3-year transitional government was established under the leadership of
BUYOYA (representing the G-10) as transitional president and DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE
(representing the G-7) as transitional vice-president for an initial period of 18 months. At the
end of this period, NDAYIZEYE or another G-7 designee was to assume the presidency for
18 months and a G-10 representative the vice presidency.
In December of 2001, the NLF (National Liberation Front) stepped up attacks on Bujumbura.
The government responded by killing 500 rebels in an attack against the NLF stronghold.
However, in July of 2002 the fighting between Hutu rebels and the Burundi government
escalated. Then in December of the same year, a cease-fire agreement was signed and talks
took place in Tanzania. An agreement emerged from the talks that incorporated the Hutu
rebels into the new national army.
In April of 2003 DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE became the new president, succeeding PIERRE
BUYOYA.
By mid-July 2003 16 of Burundi's 17 provinces were subjected to sporadic fighting, looting,
and armed banditry. Preliminary reports from the UN Office in Burundi showed that 170
people had been killed and between 6,000 and 7,000 civilians displaced since rebels began
attacking the capital, Bujumbura, from 7 July
(globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/burundi.htm )
On November 16th 2003, DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE and PETER NKURUNZIZA, the leader
of the main Hutu rebel movement, signed a peace accord in Dar-Es-Salaam. Under the peace
agreement, the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) faction became a political party
and was expected to have representation in the country's government by the end of November
2003. The rebel Hutu fighters were to be integrated into Burundi's armed forces. There were
also provisions to grant temporary immunity to both sides from prosecution. While Burundi's
government is led by a Hutu president, the army is dominated by Tutsis. More than 80-percent
of Burundi's population is Hutus.
In 2004, in his New Year's Day speech, President DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE announced that
by January 7th, 40 percent of the army's leadership would be made up of former FDD rebels.
The FDD welcomed the move as a crucial step for the beginnings of a new army.
On 21 April 2004, at the end of a four-day meeting in the Tanzanian town of Kigoma, the
Burundian rebel NLF (National Liberation Front) faction led by AGATHON RWASA
announced that it had decided to suspend hostilities against the transitional government of
Burundi.
In 2005, an era of peace and development was characterized by the successful conduct of the
referendum on a post-transition constitution, the promulgation of the electoral code and
communal law and announcement of a new electoral calendar, progress towards disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, and positive signs that the NLF
armed group might finally join the peace process.
Despite two postponements, the referendum on the post-transition Constitution was
successfully conducted without major incident on 28 February 2005. Of the 3.3 million
registered voters, 92.4 per cent, or 2,894,372 Burundians, exercised their right to vote for the
first time since 1994, and about 90.1 per cent of voters endorsed the Constitution.
The people of Burundi conducted a peaceful, orderly and dignified exercise of their
democratic right to vote in the 04 July 2005 legislative elections. The Government of Burundi
and the Independent National Electoral Commission conducted technically-sound elections
carried out in an atmosphere of peace and security. The leader of the FDD, Peter
NKURUNZIZA won the elections.
Does psychology exist in Burundi? How do Burundians conceptualize it?
If we view psychology as a science that seeks to understand the psyche and its phenomena,
we can say that it has always existed in Burundi, even though it did not exist under the same
name or under the modern form.
While in Europe, Freud in 1899 published his famous concepts of dream interpretation, in
Burundi, the KIRANGA (an intermediary between Burundians and RYANGOMBE, the
Burundian god in ancient times) knew how to give explanations approaching reality to those
who had terrifying dreams, seemingly insignificant dreams, or even dreams of prosperity. The
interpretation of dreams according to the KIRANGA, who had no formal knowledge of the
fundamentals of Freudian psychoanalysis, had its foundations in the phenomenology of mind,
trial and error, and answers from gods (Lange, 2007).
There is now in Burundi a type of family therapist who guides couples to resolve marital
conflict or to restore the parent-child relationship. In Burundi, there is a MUSHINGANTAHE
in every family, who intervenes during conflicts between married couples or between children
and their parents.
From this point of understanding, a psychologist would be utilized by Burundians as an
advisor who provides direction and guidance in a work of introspection which will aim to
overcome difficulties permanently or sustainably.
However, most Burundians have a misconception of the role of a psychologist. The term
psychologist means for them a doctor for the mad or crazy, or someone who divines the
thoughts of others. In this view, one must be wary of psychologists.
Does Burundi really need modern psychology?
Following the Burundi crisis, post-traumatic effects of the war have been seen in human
behavior. Such effects may be present in some of the victims, who lost their friends and loved
ones, or in perpetrators of the violence, who themselves directly or indirectly were involved in
the killings.
The KAMENGE Neuropsychiatric Center is one center that deals with the mentally ill in
Burundi and hosts numerous victims of the 1993 crisis, such as those who have lost touch
with reality. This center offers to them supportive psychotherapy and/or psychiatric
interventions.
These people may suffer from delusional states, psychomotor agitation, neurotic states, and/or
hyper-aggressive behavior. Hereditary factors, biochemical issues (such as abuse of drugs like
marijuana, Indian cannabis, or use of the local beer), and accidents are also causes of mental
illness or depression (NDAYISABA, 2009).
According to figures from the World Health Organization, through the assessment instrument
mental health system in Burundi (WHO-AIMS), the number of registered mentally ill in this
country has tripled since the beginning of the war, from 480 in 1993 to 1440 today.
According to a study commissioned by the KAMENGE Neuropsychiatric Centre (CNPK) on
a sample of 2770 children of less than 18 years in the provinces most affected by the war,
93.4% had witnessed violence. Some have seen their parents being killed, or their houses
burned, while others were pursued, beaten, injured, or raped.
We think it is necessary or advisable to have psychologists in multidisciplinary teams in all
medical centers and community hospitals in Burundi. Indeed, psychologists and psychiatrists
are resource persons who help to prevent trauma and other problems related to mental health.
For damage caused by domestic violence, exclusions related to disability or illness (such as
HIV/AIDS), exclusion of children accused of witchcraft, and cases of women and children in
other vulnerable situations, the assistance and support of psychologists are valuable to
appease trauma and heal the wounds of the past. Indeed, if psychology has helped to better
understand societies and their functioning, it will also inform and educate people about the
impact of their behavior in society, or with their families.
There are many associations and humanitarian organizations, intervening in cases of
vulnerable people (e.g., battered women, AIDS victims and/or orphans, street children, child
soldiers), but almost all work without the support of competent psychologists.
Burundi needs psychologists who are well trained, not only in the physical health/medical
perspective, but also in the social/group dynamic perspective. Such psychologists can assist in
re-establishing healthy relationships between parents and children or between spouses in a
marital relationship.
In rural milieux, women’s rights often are not respected. A woman frequently is considered as
a machine, giving pleasure to man and having children. Most are raped by their husbands. If
they complain, the famous answer that comes back is "urihangana n’uko zubakwa," which is
literally translated as "persevere, home is built like that" (Adolph H., 2011).
The contribution of a psychologist with a specialty in criminology is of paramount importance
to understand the dynamics of murder and antisocial behavior in cases such as the one of
Francine NIJIMBERE from Makamba province, who had both arms amputated in 2004 by her
husband. (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7rib3_violence-faite-aux-femmes-au-burund_news)
To prevent school failure, more and more schoolchildren take remedial courses after regular
classes. According to educator Dr. Joseph NDAYISABA, children who are too overloaded
have problems. Dr Joseph calls this the syndrome of remedial courses (IWACU Journal, June
2011).
Psychologists in Burundi are needed as resource persons who should intervene to prevent
school difficulties in a variety of ways. They could organize networks of specialized aid to
pupils and offer psychological follow-up. They could help to develop educational projects for
school and monitor their implementation. Psychologists could examine evaluation measures
(tests) of individuals or offer collective support for the benefit of pupils and for the integration
of disabled children. Psychologists are also needed to participate specifically in the evolution
of the school, working towards school integration and the achievement of all young people.
We argue that the field of sports also needs a person who can help advise and motivate
athletes, teams, and coaches. Such a person is no one else apart from the psychologist.
He will help athletes to learn more about themselves through interviews and tests, to prepare
themselves psychologically for competition (managing emotions, working on self-esteem,
planning, awareness of internal dialogues, motivation, and concentration), to overcome the
fear of winning, to understand the challenges of performance, and to manage a failure. He
will help teams to maintain or restore cohesion, resolve conflicts, understand and fulfill the
requirements of the collective team performance, and help manage motivation. Finally, he
will help coaches in decision making (team selection at the beginning of the year, for
example).
Another area for which psychologists may be helpful in Burundi is business and industry.
There are numerous industries in Burundi, such as the textile industry and the sugar industry.
Industrial and organizational psychologists may work to improve the investment climate or
the cohesion of an organization, or to facilitate performance and production at work, or to
improve health and well-being at work.
Challenges of Psychology in Burundi
• The population is under-informed or mis-informed about psychologists’ role in
society. Sometimes people think of psychologists as persons who take care only of the
mentally ill.
• Modern Psychology is an almost new notion in Burundi, even though the department
itself existed for some time at the Official University of Bujumbura. Today, among the
13 universities in Burundi, only 6 universities have a psychology department.
• There are only two psychiatric centers
• There are few psychiatrists
• Even if there are some firms of psychologists, few people come in for counseling.
The reasons for the hesitancy to seek counseling include the following:
-
The culture encourages introversion and inhibition. Burundians
express little or none of their emotions (from the pleasant to the
most unpleasant).
-
The problem of hunger: psychological counseling costs a certain
amount (estimated rate = 10 USD per consultation). Given that the
GDP per capita is among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa with 83
USD (2006) and that 68% of the population is living below the
poverty line, it is evident that poor finances are a barrier to service.
It is not difficult to understand that a hungry person will typically
prefer to seek food than pay to consult a psychologist; it is like
putting the beef behind the plow. One must first solve the problem
of hunger and then invite people in for psychotherapeutic sessions.
-
If people have problems, they may believe they will obtain more or
better relief from a church leader than from a psychologist, because
they view the church leader may have the solution to all problems,
as the church leader speaks with God. In addition, some people
believe a church leader will not betray one’s confidences.
-
Some people prefer to consult traditional healers (the BAPFUMUS)
rather than psychologists, because they think that often their
problems stem from bad luck or spells, and they believe that only
BAPFUMUS can heal spells.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Much remains to be done in the field of psychology in Burundi. The field is in its beginning
stages and is wide open for new experiences and initiatives. We believe that psychologists
will be able to raise the standard of living of the population in Burundi, as the main problems
in society often reside in the mind, in the way of thinking that determines how to act.
It is the duty of all institutions and universities of psychology in Burundi to enhance the
department of Psychology and strengthen the teaching methodology of psychology so that
students might understand the relevant issues and assume responsibility in changing attitudes.
It is also the duty of institutions of psychology in Burundi to expand the scope of psychology,
and to not focus only on the medical field.
To help increase awareness in the Burundian public of the importance of psychology, it is
imperative that:
 They know first what psychology is
 They accept that not everything can be explained by magic (for instance, that when a
person has psychological problems, it is not due to a spell or an evil spirit)
 The counseling sessions be less expensive
 The psychologists be close to the people
Thus, it is the duty of Burundian psychologists and the psychology students of Burundi to
organize campaigns and hold open days to sensitize the public to an understanding of the
need for psychologists in all areas of life.
Finally, it is recommended that international psychologists, in partnership and collaboration
with local psychologists, institutions, and psychology departments, and other humanitarian
organizations, along with doctors and religious leaders, work together by mutual agreement
to offer conferences, training seminars, and days of volunteering, so that the people of
Burundi can better understand how the psychologist is of great value in social dynamics and
human development.