Bienvenue+-+Burundi

Chapter 7

History of Burundi · Size of Connecticut · 8.5 million people · South of Rwanda east of Congo and north of Tanzania · One of the poorest countries in the world · Like in Rwanda the Tutsi minority ruled over the Hutu majority in Burundi with support from their colonial stewards Germany then Belgium and continued after independence in 1962 · In the 1990’s there was a hope for an agreement between these ethnic groups. In 1993 the first Hutu leader was elected in free elections. · Four months later he was assassinated by a Tutsi faction. Hutus took revenge on the Tutsis and the Tutsis responded to with violence. A ten-year civil war started with many deaths and many fled to Tanzania and Mozambique.

Family to the U.S.   · In 2000 the Hutus took control of Bujumbura where Generose and the sons lived. Since they were Tutsis she fled with the children she fled the city with boys to Mozambique. They then lived in Mozambique for four years hoping to hear from the UN about their application for asylum. · In August of 2005 they learned that they would go to the U.S. to Atlanta. They flew to South Africa to NYC to Atlanta where they were met by a caseworker from International Rescue committee who drove the thirty minutes to Clarkson to their Willow Ridge Apartment. · On the first day Bienvenue met Grace Balegamire (Chapter 6) and learned about American kids and how they acted (sagging, boys wore long braids, guns, mean to Africans). Grace told Bien about the soccer team for refugees and planned to ask if he could join. · Bienvenue joined midseason but could only practice because of the full roster. · Cultural issues with “Fugee’s” o Players connected by language; Luma’s rule was to only speak English. o Cultural connections; Luma grouped them by different countries like Liberian, Sudanese, Iraqi, etc.  o Players were constantly competing for the coach’s approval because for many she was like a surrogate parent however she made sure she did not show favoritism. When rivalry arose she told them, “We’re all foreigner and we must all unite.” o Players came and went and Luma was frequently starting over. o Difficulty with the disparity with competition (gear, uniforms, and support) i.e. ragged uniforms, no matching bags, empty sidelines. Luma had to keep the kids focused on what they did have. o Reactions with competition were sometimes positive and generous but more often negative and hostile (racial slurs, questioning age requirements, laughing at names, etc.) · The hostility the Fugees endured as well as their used gear and lack of support only seemed to strengthen the bonds of the team. Luma also developed close relations with the players and families.