Burundian diaspora celebrates culture in Canada
The tenth Ishaka cultural club performance took place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
In October 2026, the Burundian diaspora in Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada, celebrated their culture through three key events. These included the tenth performance by the Ishaka cultural club at the National Arts Centre and an address by Burundian-Canadian Member of Parliament Arielle Kayabaga in the House of Commons. A conference on traditional values also took place at the University of Quebec in Outaouais.
MP Arielle Kayabaga highlighted Ishaka's tenth performance at the National Arts Centre during a session in the Canadian House of Commons, receiving applause from her colleagues. The events aimed to share Burundian cultural heritage with those living or born abroad. Preparations involved many Burundians in the Canadian capital, who were described as busy with the responsibility of universalizing their cultural legacy.
On October 1, an academic institution in Canada hosted a discussion on Burundian heritage and traditional values, attended by researchers, writers, students, and families. Participants discussed preserving traditional identity abroad amidst modernity. Young attendees shared their appreciation for values like respect and solidarity ('ugufashanya'), while organizers emphasized the role of parents in educating children about their heritage.
Why it mattersBurundian expatriates in Canada are actively engaged in cultural preservation and transmission to younger generations born abroad.