Book of Days Tales

Today is Rwagasore Day in Burundi. Louis Rwagasore (1932 – 1961) was a Burundian prince and politician, who served as the second prime minister of Burundi for two weeks, from 28 September 1961 until his assassination on 13 October 1961. Born to the Ganwa family of Burundian Mwami (king) Mwambutsa IV in Belgian-administered Ruanda-Urundi in 1932, Rwagasore was educated in Burundian Catholic schools before attending university in Belgium. After he returned to Burundi in the mid-1950s he founded a series of cooperatives to economically empower native Burundians and build up his base of political support. The Belgian administration took over the venture, and as a result his national profile increased and he became a leading figure of the anti-colonial movement. Rwagasore was assassinated while dining outdoors with friends and his cabinet members at the Hotel Tanganyika in Usumbura. He was killed by a single gunshot wound to the throat, fired from approximately 60 feet (18 meters) away from a group of bushes. The assassin and accomplices were eventually apprehended and identified as members of a rival political faction.

Here is a classic dish from Burundi: beans and bananas. 

Ingredients

1 lb. dried red kidney beans

4 green bananas or plantains

2 tablespoons palm oil

1 onion, peeled and sliced

salt to taste

hot chile pepper to taste

Instructions

Soak the beans for at least 3 hours (or overnight) in plenty of water.

Drain, place in a saucepan, cover with water and boil for about 60 minutes or until tender, Drain.

Peel and chop the bananas/plantains. Add the oil to a skillet and brown the onions. Add in the beans and bananas to the oil and season with salt and chiles. Add 4 cups of water and simmer until the beans are completely cooked and the liquid has reduced to about one cup.

Serve hot