Things to see and do Central

Between Mwaro and Kibumbu, the Chutes falls, known as «Agasumo ka Mwaro», is an ideal place for a picnic and, in addition, a long history of beliefs. Before the introduction of Christian religions by the colonizers, Burundians practised the Cult of kubandwa, in which particular importance was reserved for waterfalls. The most sacred of them, and the best known nowadays, are these in Kayokwe.

To pray, Burundians traditionally passed through Adopt, intermediate between men and Imana (God); the latter, falling from heaven, would have settled in those falls whose waters kept bad spirits and thieves apart. Initiés's insiders regularly took a ritual bath here after a night of worship, to purify their body and spirit, and then threw food and drinks into the water to share them with the spirits there.

Today, the development of the site is underway and a former rugo has been reconstituted. The construction of a campsite and a hotel on site is also in project at the time of writing this guide.

Inaugurated at the end of 2011, this centre is the result of fruitful collaboration between the municipal administration of Gitega, the Burundian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the international Peace and Sport organization. The aim is to supervise young people, school leavers or school leavers, by offering them sports and cultural activities, the educational virtues of sport being put at the service of the integration of the least favoured.

The house in which the centre is located, near the Olympia on the road to Karuzi and Muyinga, is one of the most stylish in Burundi. Built in the mid s in a modernist genre reminiscent of Le Corbusier, all in geometry, cut corners and piles, it first belonged to an Asian shopkeeper in Gitega and became a luxury hotel before falling into ruins. We can therefore only welcome the aid provided by the European Union for the successful rehabilitation of this beautiful architectural heritage (around 150 000 €).