Society & Class — The Book Roads

Baho!

Roland Rugero

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.

Burundi 2016