In Burundi, Women Learn Old Way to Say Hello
2024-11-02
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1The hug between the two women lasted a long time.
2An 85-year-old woman put her arms around a younger woman she had not seen for months.
3She asked her a series of questions in a song-like way.
4How are you? How is your husband? How are the kids? How are your cows? Are you on good terms with your neighbors?
5Prudencienne Namukobwa stopped the song to permit the younger woman to answer.
6The pattern is familiar to her because she has been doing it for many years.
7"Ego," Emelyne Nzeyimana answered over and over in the local Kirundi language. "Yes."
8The two women were performing a greeting of their ancestors.
9A group of neighbors watched with surprise.
10Many were seeing their first performance of the traditional form of musical greeting, known to Burundians as akazehe.
11It is performed only by women.
12Akazehe is becoming less common.
13But cultural officials, teachers and others say the greeting is worth keeping.
14During disease outbreaks, public health officials urged people to limit close contact.
15Such recommendations affected the greeting.
16Among young people in Burundi, it is hard to find those who know what akazehe means.
17It is even harder to find someone who can perform it.
18Sandrine Kitonze is a culture advisor in the office of the governor of Ngozi province.
19She said people stopped doing the greeting, even though akazehe "made you feel that the person who greets you loves you."
20Some experts have noted akazehe could help lead to a feeling of unity in Burundi.
21The country is now largely peaceful following a period of deadly civil war and political unrest.
22Annonciate Baragahorana is a teacher in the province of Bujumbura.
23She told the Associated Press that when she visited the central plateau area as a young girl, she was surprised and a little uneasy when women hugged and greeted her in this song-like way.
24"I wanted her to finish quickly, even if it was sweet words to hear."
25Baragahorana said she feared akazehe may disappear because of the fear of spreading diseases.
26Now, she said, "people greet each other from a distance."
27Namukobwa lives in Ngozi a hilly province in Burundi's north.
28On a recent morning, she was sitting on a mat outside when she saw Nzeyimana, the visiting daughter of a former neighbor.
29She rose and welcomed the woman as if she were her own daughter.
30"I felt that the first love she had when I was just a girl is kept until now," said Nzeyimana, a broadcaster in Ngozi.
31"This means that I am still her daughter."
32Isaac Nikobiba is an anthropologist in Bujumbura.
33He said a custom such as akazehe should be kept at all costs because of its role in protecting families.
34Among communities that practice it, women could tell elder women about any problems at home.
35That could bring support from the extended family, he said.
36Nikobiba said the threat to akazehe is part of other effects of modernization.
37He explained how the custom worked to help younger women.
38"Normally, before starting a home in traditional Burundi, the girl would first receive advice from her father's sister. She would tell the girl, 'I will come to greet you after a certain time.'"
39Nikobiba added that during that greeting, the young woman could report any problems.
40Support from elders would help them develop better mental health for the young family, he said.
41Floride Ntakirutimana was among the small group of women who gathered to watch Namukobwa greeting Nzeyimana.
42She said she grew up in a farming community where no mother could perform akazehe. She only heard of it through radio programs.
43After watching, she wanted to learn akazehe herself.
44"I feel better, Ntakirutimana said, "and I saw that it was good."
45I'm Jill Robbins.
1The hug between the two women lasted a long time. 2An 85-year-old woman put her arms around a younger woman she had not seen for months. She asked her a series of questions in a song-like way. 3How are you? How is your husband? How are the kids? How are your cows? Are you on good terms with your neighbors? 4Prudencienne Namukobwa stopped the song to permit the younger woman to answer. The pattern is familiar to her because she has been doing it for many years. 5"Ego," Emelyne Nzeyimana answered over and over in the local Kirundi language. "Yes." 6The two women were performing a greeting of their ancestors. 7A group of neighbors watched with surprise. Many were seeing their first performance of the traditional form of musical greeting, known to Burundians as akazehe. It is performed only by women. 8Akazehe is becoming less common. But cultural officials, teachers and others say the greeting is worth keeping. 9During disease outbreaks, public health officials urged people to limit close contact. Such recommendations affected the greeting. 10Among young people in Burundi, it is hard to find those who know what akazehe means. It is even harder to find someone who can perform it. 11Sandrine Kitonze is a culture advisor in the office of the governor of Ngozi province. She said people stopped doing the greeting, even though akazehe "made you feel that the person who greets you loves you." 12Some experts have noted akazehe could help lead to a feeling of unity in Burundi. The country is now largely peaceful following a period of deadly civil war and political unrest. 13Annonciate Baragahorana is a teacher in the province of Bujumbura. She told the Associated Press that when she visited the central plateau area as a young girl, she was surprised and a little uneasy when women hugged and greeted her in this song-like way. "I wanted her to finish quickly, even if it was sweet words to hear." 14Baragahorana said she feared akazehe may disappear because of the fear of spreading diseases. Now, she said, "people greet each other from a distance." 15Namukobwa lives in Ngozi a hilly province in Burundi's north. On a recent morning, she was sitting on a mat outside when she saw Nzeyimana, the visiting daughter of a former neighbor. She rose and welcomed the woman as if she were her own daughter. 16"I felt that the first love she had when I was just a girl is kept until now," said Nzeyimana, a broadcaster in Ngozi. "This means that I am still her daughter." 17Isaac Nikobiba is an anthropologist in Bujumbura. He said a custom such as akazehe should be kept at all costs because of its role in protecting families. Among communities that practice it, women could tell elder women about any problems at home. That could bring support from the extended family, he said. 18Nikobiba said the threat to akazehe is part of other effects of modernization. 19He explained how the custom worked to help younger women. "Normally, before starting a home in traditional Burundi, the girl would first receive advice from her father's sister. She would tell the girl, 'I will come to greet you after a certain time.'" 20Nikobiba added that during that greeting, the young woman could report any problems. Support from elders would help them develop better mental health for the young family, he said. 21Floride Ntakirutimana was among the small group of women who gathered to watch Namukobwa greeting Nzeyimana. She said she grew up in a farming community where no mother could perform akazehe. She only heard of it through radio programs. 22After watching, she wanted to learn akazehe herself. "I feel better, Ntakirutimana said, "and I saw that it was good." 23I'm Jill Robbins. 24Rodney Muhumuza and Gaspard Maheburwa reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 25______________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27hug - n. the act of putting your arms around someone or something as a way of showing love or friendship 28greeting - n. something that is said or done to show people that you are happy to meet or see them 29plateau - n. a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it 30anthropologist - n. a person who studies human races, origins, societies, and cultures 31What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.