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Burundi -- Languages
Languages
The primarly
languages
of Burundi
are Kirundi
(official),
French (official),
and Swahili
(along Lake
Tanganyika
and in the
Bujumbura
area)
Kirundi
is closely
related to
Kinyarwanda,
the official
language of
Rwanda. All
Burundians
know Kirundi,
but may speak
it with regional
variations.
A traditonal
greeting in
Kirundi is
Amashyo, which
means "May
you have herds
of cattle."
The response
is Amashongore,
"I wish
you herds
of females."
Kirundi has
many references
and allusions
to the virtues
of cattle.
To wish someone
"herds
of cattle"
is a metaphorical
way of wishing
them good
health and
prosperity.
[1]
Literacy
definition:
age 15 and
over can read
and write
total population:
35.3% male:
49.3% female:
22.5% (1995
est.)
Source:
CIA World
Fact Book
[1] Groeslsema,
R. 1995. Burundians.
In Worldmark
Encyclopedia
of Cultures
and Daily
Life.
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