Probably from some time in the 17th century, Burundi was a kingdom. The majority of its people were of the Hutu ethnic group, but the monarchs (known as mwamis) were Tutsis. The kingdom was preserved under European colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was an independent state between 1962 and 1966.
The capital of the Kingdom of Burundi was Gitega – founded in the nation's central highlands in 1912 by German colonisers, and growing to be the nation's second largest city. From 1922, Usumbura (now Bujumbura - 60 miles away on the shores of Lake Tanganyika) acted as a second, colonial, administrative and economic capital; it effectively became the country's only political capital following the abolition of the monarchy in 1966.
Pierre Nkurunziza, who was elected as President of Burundi by the nation's parliament in 2005, promised in 2007 that he would return Gitega to its former status as the political capital, with Bujumbura remaining as the economic capital and centre of commerce. In December 2018 it was announced that this change was to be effected in the following year, Bujumbura remaining as the commercial centre while five ministries would move to Gitega.
Independent observers said that the move was likely linked to Bujumbura becoming increasingly an opposition stronghold, leading to continued clashes between protesters and police.
The Quiz Monkey's feeling is that while the country has two capitals, it may take some time for Gitega to be seen as the principal capital; so we are going to continue to refer to Bujumbura as the capital (with this note to explain the situation in more detail) until we become convinced that it's time to change. In the meantime, we urge caution when either setting or answering questions about the capital of Burundi!
© Haydn Thompson 2020