Burundi - The sacred natural landscapes of Muramvya, Mpotsa and Nkiko-Mugamba

The successor of the king (umwami singular, abami plural) was to be enthroned following a specific ritual. Indeed, after the death of the ruler, while the Biru ritualists dealt with the royal remains, the court staff had to organize a mourning in Mwihangarizo where the chiefs flocked and stayed until the enthronement of the new king. The Mwihangarizo site (Shombo area, Muramvya commune) was the starting point for the procession route of the new king's enthronement. The end of the mourning was at the watering hole in the Gahororo stream of Musongati Hill, located near the confluence of the Mucece and Nyavyamo rivers: the future king, the court staff, the princes, the chiefs, the sub-chiefs and cattle came down from Mwihangarizo to this confluence zone where the induction ritual was performed.