For more than 40 years, the AMAHORO! state partnership has connected people between Baden-Württemberg and Burundi. To mark this anniversary, the Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) invited people to two celebrations on November 13, 2024: in Stuttgart and Bujumbura.
The year is 1984. Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" is playing on the radio and conquering the charts. But it's not just Wonder who is celebrating a milestone this year, but also the AMAHORO! state partnership between Baden-Württemberg and Burundi: It is the year in which the partnership sees the light of day. Today, in 2024, the heart of this partnership beats stronger than ever. Numerous people from both regions are involved every day in various areas: from education to health to research.
To celebrate this commitment and look back on the last 40 years, the SEZ held two anniversary celebrations simultaneously in Bujumbura and Stuttgart on November 13, 2024.
"I only returned from a business trip this afternoon. But I'm glad I managed to attend this celebration. If you miss your partner's birthday, you've got a problem. Even if it's not a marriage, today we're celebrating a long-term partnership."
This is how Ambassador Albert Shingiro, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, compared the AMAHORO! country partnership on the occasion of the anniversary celebrations in Bujumbura. A special evening full of memories and exchange was celebrated at the German Embassy in Burundi. With rousing music and a lively atmosphere, the guests looked back on the past four decades.
A special highlight of the evening was the presence of Prof. Emile Mworoha, one of the founding fathers of the partnership. Prof. Mworoha brought both events together as a common connecting element: He personally attended the celebration in Burundi and at the same time addressed an inspiring video message to the guests in Stuttgart. You can read his words about the country partnership on our Youtube channel You can find out more about the beginnings of the AMAHORO! partnership and Prof. Emile Mworoha .
A journey through history: 40 years of AMAHORO!
The Burundian musician, Arthur Niyimpaye, opened the evening with music. The patronage of the evening was assumed by Astère Hatungimana, Chairman of the Burundian Diaspora in Germany eV. The association has always acted as a bridge builder between the two regions and, through its commitment, makes a significant contribution to strengthening relations.
Under the Burundian proverb "Inzira ntibara inkuru - On a journey you encounter a multitude of stories", the committed people looked back on the past four decades, in which countless encounters and projects between people from Baden-Württemberg and Burundi have emerged. The focus of the anniversary celebration was on civil society, which has always been at the core of the AMAHORO! partnership.
Following the festival program, guests were treated to a benefit concert with the Camerata Europeana chamber orchestra. Under the direction of Radoslaw Szulc, the orchestra presented works by great masters: in addition to Handel, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" were also performed. Solo contributions by Anissa Baniahmad (flute), Tamara Bueno de la Torre (soprano), Bernhard Lörcher (cello) and Doren Dinglinger (violin) provided a musical treat.
The donations from the evening went to projects from the AMAHORO! partnership, such as the Educational project on sustainable agriculture and microfinance for small farmers in Kirundo and Muyinga, carried out by the association Burundi und Wir eV
Visual impressions of the anniversary celebrations:
Arthur Niyimpaye opened the anniversary celebration in Stuttgart (©SEZ/Fotonoid).
Astère Hatungimana, BDD eV, was patron (©SEZ/Fotonoid).
Doren Dinglinger enchanted the audience with the violin (©SEZ/Fotonoid).
Steffen Müller, GESTE, Ambassador Albert Shingiro, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, and Carsten Hölscher, German Ambassador, shook hands in the spirit of partnership (©SEZ).
Dr. Rainer Schach, Acquiline Schach and Sister Joséphine chatted at the anniversary celebration (©SEZ).
A band created a good atmosphere (©SEZ).
