The drums are made from tree trunks, hollowed out with animal skin stretched tight over them, and are called 'karyenda' (left). They represent traditions going back centuries, particularly the rule of the Burundi monarch and the harvest, and provide a rich and powerful experience when played as demonstrated in the above video. The drums themselves when played with full vigour sound like thunderclaps.

Organisations such as UNICEF and other NGOs have used the tradition of Burundi drumming to help heal the ethnic divisions that erupted into Burundi's savage civil war. By getting children to play the drums as part of a team they are showing that by working together much can be achieved whilst simultaneously celebrating the country's heritage.