Burundi’s Ambassador Annonciata Sendarizasa on the Sacred Drum Ingoma
A reflection on power symbolism and Burundi’s cultural identity
November 27th, 2025
On the 1st of December the Ambassador of Burundi to Germany, Annonciata Sendarizasa delivered a keynote speech at the Forum on Democracy and Peace, hosted by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) in Potsdam. The forum formed part of the ICD’s ongoing efforts to unite diplomatic voices, academics, and international students in dialogue on global democratic challenges and opportunities.
Ambassador Sendarizasa delivered a powerful reflection on the cultural and political meaning of the drum, reminding the international community that some of the world’s deepest lessons on unity and identity do not come from institutions, but from heritage.
She explained that in Burundi, the word ingoma means both “drum” and “kingdom,” which comes from the past when royal drums were treated as sovereign objects; they were housed in sanctuaries, guarded by hereditary families, and played only during the most critical moments of national life. Today, these drums still occupy a central place in the country’s cultural memory and were recognized by UNESCO in 2014 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Her Excellency emphasized that the drum remains a living identity marker: an instrument that binds generations, unites communities, and carries the emotional weight of belonging. However, the Ingoma is also under pressure; in the modern era, cultural traditions face competing demands from tourism, state regulation, and global media. Also, a debate about gender emerged, because historically only men have played the drum, but the new generation views cultural participation as a right, not an inheritance.
Ambassador Sendarizasa reminded the audience that cultural heritage is a form of diplomacy. By presenting the drum’s story at a forum dedicated to democracy and peace, she reframed the Ingoma as more than a national emblem. At a time when many societies struggle with fragmentation and polarization, the discipline and unity embodied in Burundian drumming offers an important symbol: harmony emerges not from uniformity, but from coordinated diversity. In presenting the Ingoma to an international audience, she invited the world to rethink Burundi not as a nation defined by its challenges, but as a custodian of a cultural legacy with global relevance.
The Ambassador reminded us that heritage can still shape modern political thought: culture can bridge gaps that politics alone cannot, and heritage can be a powerful tool for diplomacy when it is honoured and shared. We should work together to advance democracy and peace and as she notes, we should remember the drum’s message—the call to listen, to coordinate, to respect, and to build harmony from diversity.
