Burundi

First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Burundi and Rwanda, 1969.

The Bahá’í Faith was first established in Burundi in the early 1950s. Since that time, increasing numbers of people throughout the country have been finding inspiration and guidance in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Here, members of the Bahá’í community are working together with their neighbors and friends to promote and contribute to the well-being and progress of society. In urban centres and rural villages, in homes and schools, citizens of all backgrounds, classes and ages are participating in a dynamic pattern of life, taking part in activities which are, at once, spiritual, social and educational.

So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.

Women and children gather for a group photograph during a Bahá’í meeting in Kinama, Bujumbura.

Many community building activities that address society’s needs in both their spiritual and material dimensions are underway in Burundi. Among the principles that inspire them are the oneness of humanity, the need for universal education and the elimination of all forms of prejudice. In Burundi, the Bahá’ís and their growing numbers of friends offer opportunities to study and reflect upon spiritual topics, arrange meetings for communal worship, and provide classes for children and youth, emphasizing moral education.