Baho!
Burundi

Baho!

by Roland Rugero

Society & Class Literary Fiction 2016

Summary

Set in a fictional village in Burundi, Baho! follows Nyamuragi, a young boy who cannot speak. When he attempts to ask a young woman for directions to a suitable place to relieve himself, his gestures are misunderstood, and he is accused of intending to sexually assault her. Frightened, he runs away, but his flight is interpreted as proof of guilt. Soon, villagers join the pursuit, and a simple misunderstanding escalates into collective outrage and the threat of mob justice.

Through this tense and darkly satirical story, Roland Rugero examines the dangers of prejudice, social conformity, and the rush to judgment. The novel also explores the consequences of Burundi’s violent past and the challenges of rebuilding trust within a divided society. Incorporating Kirundi proverbs and elements of oral storytelling, Rugero creates a distinctive portrait of Burundian culture while questioning how fear and rumour can distort people’s understanding of truth and justice.

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About the author
Roland Rugero
Roland Rugero

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.

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Details
Published
2016
Author
Roland Rugero