DefendDefenders

Daniel is a committed slam poet and human rights defender, using his powerful words to advocate for change in his home country, Burundi. Living in exile since 2015, Daniel has turned to poetry as a medium for raising awareness about the struggles his country faces, particularly focusing on themes like patriotism, civic values, and the preservation of Burundian culture.
On 19 November 2015, Daniel faced the difficult decision to leave his home country, Burundi. At that time, he was in the final year of his undergraduate studies in health sciences, specialising in midwifery at the National Institute of Public Health. With only four months of internship left to complete his bachelor’s degree, Daniel was arrested and subjected to intense interrogation at a rural hospital where he was interning. Fearing for his safety, he decided to flee. His journey spanned nine days, during which he crossed through three countries before finally settling in his host country. He left behind his father, brother, and sister, who remain in Burundi to this day.