Roland Rugero

About

Roland Rugero is a Burundian novelist, journalist, and filmmaker born in 1986 near Bujumbura, Burundi. His childhood was shaped by the political violence and upheaval that affected the country during the 1990s, experiences that later influenced his interest in memory, identity, and the challenges of rebuilding society. Rugero began working as a journalist in 2008 and has written extensively about Burundian society and culture. His literary work explores the relationship between language, history, and collective identity, often drawing on Kirundi proverbs and oral storytelling traditions. His first novel, Les Oniriques, was published in 2007, followed by Baho! in 2012. The English translation of Baho!, published in 2016, introduced many English-language readers to Burundian fiction and was recognised for its distinctive exploration of misunderstanding, prejudice, and justice. Rugero also co-founded the Samandari literary workshop and helped establish literary prizes supporting emerging writers in Burundi. In addition to writing, he has worked in filmmaking, contributing to the development of the country’s cinema.