Burundian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Burundi is a small, hilly country in central Africa, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Its people speak Kirundi and French. Burundians in Britain include families who came seeking safety, as well as students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 10,239 people living in the city had been born in Southern and Eastern African countries other than Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a group that includes Burundi.

Working for Birmingham

Burundian residents work in healthcare, social care, cleaning, transport and education, and many are studying to build new careers. Their language skills in French, Kirundi and Swahili are valued, and they are known for their hard work and their support for one another and for new arrivals.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Burundian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

The Royal Drum of Burundi, with its thunderous rhythms and athletic dancing, is recognised by UNESCO and has been performed around the world. Churches and community gatherings are central to Burundian life, and beans, plantains and cassava are staples of home cooking.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Burundian community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.