Interbank Burundi : 10 years of cultural, artistic and sporting sponsorship

1. Background.

Interbank Burundi was established in 1993, exactly on January 4th, a year when the most devastating socio-political crisis ever witnessed in Burundi broke out and which is in its eleventh year.
In spite and because of this less favourable environment, the Bank was launched with an ambition : a strong commitment to its clients and beyond those clients a strong commitment to the communities within whom it is operating.

In one of our recent outlets, we have shown how that commitment has become the founding element of the Bank's corner policy ; it is also the founding element of the solidarity with the communities and the collectivities which form its operational milieu, through humanitarian and caritative actions, the promotion of art and culture, through sponsoring initiatives, and the development of sport.

Concerning the humanitarian and caritative activities, the Bank has tried, in the limit of its means, to stand on the side of the most in need, particularly the victims of the socio-political crisis that broke out in October 1993 and AIDS patients, through various direct and indirect donations, in kind or cash meant mostly to help them to take care of themselves.

2. Cultural and artistic sponsorship.

In this field, the Bank has adopted a policy of selective interventions that it implements following three major orientations : the support to various cultural associations in urban and provincial areas, on the occasion of numerous exhibitions organized on themes of peace and reconciliation, the promotion of the artistic and literary creation and the constitution of the collection of artistic works to expose in working areas at the Headquarters and in the Branches.

Exposition "Méthode Ndayiheke 2000"

Regarding the promotion of artistic creation, Interbank Burundi greatly contributed to the growth of unknown talents like the artist-painter Méthode Ndayiheke running the Artistic Centre GRAFFITI whose exposition known as "Méthode Ndayiheke 2000" it co-sponsored at the French Cultural Centre on April 20th through May 3rd 2000, the Belgian contemporary artist Carine Campe or the young Burundian realistic-painter, Leonard MINANI from Gitega, whose know-how made of him a real hope for the Burundian art.   Still in the artistic field, the Bank has brought a great support to the production of MAHORO film by Soprela-Production, in 1999.

In the field of literature, Interbank has notably contributed to the edition and the diffusion of the following publications:

• "Ubuzima bw'umuganwa RWAGASORE" ( "Life of Prince RWAGASORE" ), by Damas GIHUGU
• "Itinéraire de la Sagesse, les Bashingantahe, hier, aujourd'hui et demain au Burundi" ("the itinerary of wisdom, the Wisemen, yesterday, today and tomorrow in Burundi"), by Father Adrien NTABONA.
• "Le Mal Burundais, ou l'Involution Historique d'une Vieille Nation" ( "the Burundian Evil or the Historical Involution, of an Old Nation"), by Dr André BIRABUZA.
• "Péripéties Burundaises, Acteur et Témoin" ("Burundian Events, Actor and witness"), by Adolphe BINAGANA.
• "Parcours Public et Privé d'un Burundais" ("Public and Private Itinerary of a Burundian"), by Donatien BIHUTE
• and " Echelle des Responsabilités dans les guerres et conflits Africains, Pays du COMESA cas du Rwanda et du Burundi " ( " Scale of Responsibilities in wars and conflicts in Africa - COMESA countries - case of Rwanda and Burundi "), by Jérôme SINDUHIJE.
  

Interbank Burundi has set up progressively an important collection of works of art produced by the following artists : Méthode Ndayiheke, Carine Campe and Léonard MINANI and others, cave sculptures or wood ones exposed in the Bank's reception areas.

3. Parrainage Sportif.

Traditionally, the Bank's interventions in sports sponsorships are selectively directed to golf, tennis and athletics

Concerning Golf and Tennis, the Bank has launched two important annual challenges, Interbank Golf Trophy and Interbank Tennis Trophy, two important sporting events in Bujumbura since 8 years back. It remains, indeed, one of the major sponsors of Golf Bujumbura Invitational, a golf tournament which is attended by golf players from the Sub-region, and a Regional Tennis Tournament, other annual exhibitions performed in Bujumbura.

In athletics, Interbank Burundi sponsors the Burundi Athletics Federation and the Association of Burundi Sports Journalists through donations to enable some to attend international or regional meetings and others to cover those events.

Among those international competitions, we would recall particularly the Atlanta Games, in 1996, during which the reknown Burundi Athlete Vénuste Niyongabo was the first Burundian Olympic medal awarded , the Francophone Antananarivo Games, in 1997, the Dakar, Nice and Johannesburg games in 1998 and the Seville World Championships in 1999.

Indeed, the Bank has significantly contributed to the organisation and the success of competitions held in Bujumbura such as the traditional Regional Cross Country Championship and the Half - Marathon and the March -"Move for Peace" 2001.

4. Prospects.

As a leading institution in the banking services, Interbank Burundi is aware that being a leader implies accountability.

Accountability vis-à-vis the shareholders and clients of course, but also and particularly accountability vis-à-vis the communities among which the bank operates.

This commitment remains intact even today ; and our action for the promotion of art, culture and sport will be strengthened as and when the financial means will be consolidated.

We are mostly grateful today to note that the commitment of Interbank Burundi to the support of cultural and sporting development is raising the same interest from enterprises of the same size.

We encourage each and all to forge ahead.

IBB-Infos / 19 May 2003
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