Two Burundian artists detained over violation of culture and customs

Olegue Baraka and Pacelli Iradukunda also known as Landry Promoter are detained by the Police since last week. They are accused of breaking the Burundian culture and customs through their songs and videos.

The two artists are jailed in the office of the police dealing with juvenile crimes. With handcuffs on their hands, they look a bit tired and desperate. Both of them realize the error of their ways but the police say they must appear before justice.

Olegue Baraka, a young Burundian artist accepts having made a song that violates the Burundian culture and customs alongside other young people.

“I did not know I was doing something wrong by making the song known as “Délégué Général (Higher students’ representative),” he says. Many of my peers encouraged me to do the song just to become famous but I was not aware of the consequences that might follow, he adds.

He asks the police to release him and promises to never do it again. He calls on other artists to do songs which contain good messages and respect the Burundian culture and customs.
“We did not know that we were making mistakes,” says Pacelli Iradukunda, producer of the song sung by Olegue Baraka. He works at online Waka Light TV.

He asks the administration and other young people to forgive them.
“Last year, Olegue released a video titled ‘Toriyinoti’ meaning “take that money” containing a naked woman,” says Pierre Nkurikiye, Spokesman for the Burundian Ministry of Security.
Mr. Nkurikiye says this year’s song “Délégué Général” by the same artist is the worse. “It violates the Burundian moral values as it shows naked young ladies,” he adds.

For him, the song accuses Education officials of adultery without providing facts. “He worked with students from different schools and insulted the Minister of Education,” he says.
The police also accuse him of defaming the Burundian police in particular and the country in general through an audio he shared accusing the police of jailing him in water.

As for Pacelli Iradukunda, the police say he works for an unauthorized medium Waka light TV and produces videos which violate personal privacy and Burundian cultural values.
The Spokesman for the Ministry of Security calls on Burundian artists to respect the Burundian culture and moral values.