Through its rich collections of ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, the National Museum bears witness to the country’s history, the diversity of its cultures, and the evolution of Burundian societies over the centuries. Built in 1947, inaugurated in 1955, and opened to the public for the first time in 1957, it is today one of the country’s leading cultural institutions. It serves as an essential venue for better understanding and sharing the history, art, and traditions of Burundi.
Given the building’s deteriorating condition, which currently limits the museum’s ability to fully carry out its missions, the project aims to create better conditions for conservation, visitor reception, and educational outreach. Thanks to financial support from ALIPH, UNESCO is undertaking the rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure to make the museum functional, accessible, and compliant with contemporary museum standards.
The project also includes the design of a new exhibition layout to better showcase the collections and revitalize the visitor experience through an educational journey tailored to the diversity of the public.
The museum’s rehabilitation is thus an important step toward ensuring the long-term protection of the collections and offering visitors an accessible, functional cultural space adapted to the needs of today’s audiences.
Krista Pikkat, Director, Culture and Emergencies, Culture sector, UNESCO
The project is fully aligned with the 2015 UNESCO Recommendation on the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, Their Diversity, and Their Role in Society. This recommendation highlights the role of museums not only in heritage conservation but also in education, intercultural dialogue, intergenerational transmission, and social cohesion. The National Museum of Gitega thus aims to strengthen its role among the entire population, particularly young Burundians.
Finally, this modernisation is part of UNESCO’s commitment to Africa, particularly within the framework of its Priority Africa Flagship Program 3, which supports African Member States in combating illicit trafficking in cultural property under the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property, and in facilitating the return and restitution of cultural property.
The significance of this project goes beyond the mere aspect of restoration, as it offers an opportunity to envision a new, more contemporary approach to museums. National ownership of the project will ensure its sustainability, which will, however, depend on the collective capacity of the Burundian people to ensure its long-term preservation. It will thus be an investment in Burundi’s cultural future and a step toward the 2040–2060 vision.
Professor Clément Bigirimana, Secretary-General of the Burundi National Commission for UNESCO
The project owes its origins in particular to the efforts of Her Royal Highness Princess Esther Kamatari, Burundi’s Roving Ambassador, who had drawn UNESCO’s attention to the museum’s condition and the need to preserve this essential institution of Burundian heritage. UNESCO conducted an initial mission in February 2026, which made it possible to assess the museum’s needs and, in consultation with Burundian authorities, identify priorities and future prospects.
