Esther Kamatari

Esther Kamatari
Esther Kamatari
	Princess of Burundi
	Esther Kamatari in 2009.
Born	30 November 1951[1]; Bujumbura, Burundi
Spouse	Peter Bassez; Gilles Herbulot
Issue	from first marriage:; Frédérique Bassez Kamatari, ; from second marriage:; Jade Herbulot Kamatari ; Arthur Herbulot Kamatari <--list children in order of birth-->
House	Ntwero
Father	Prince Ignace Kamatari
Mother	Agrippine
Occupation	model, writer, artist

Princess Esther Kamatari (born on 30 November 1951 in Bujumbura)[2] is a writer, model, and exiled Burundian princess.[3]

Biography

Esther Kamatari grew up in Burundi as a member of the royal family. She was educated at l'Ecole Nationale d'Administration du Burundi. Following independence in 1962, the king was overthrown in a military coup d'état, and the monarchy abolished in 1966. Kamatari fled the country in 1970 after her father's assassination and settled in Paris, where she became the first black model in France.[4] An attempt to re-establish the kingdom ended with the murder of King Ntare V in 1972.

Burundi's post-independence history has been dominated by tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority. The civil war of the 1990s in Burundi and conflicts with neighbouring countries and the plight of thousands of child-victims of war led her to become involved with the Association of the People of Burundi in France. In Burundi she is known for her humanitarian work.

A peace brokered by South Africa has made elections possible in Burundi, and Esther Kamatari and her Abahuza party, which means "bringing people together," will run on the platform of restoration of the monarchy.

Marriage and children

Esther is married to a French man named Gilles. He is a doctor. They have two children, Jade and Arthur. Esther already had a daughter, Frédérique,from a previous relationship.

Patronages

President of Burundian Association en France (since 1990).

Honours

Foreign honours

Knight of the National Order of the Lion (Republic of Senegal, 14 August 2002).

Publications

Kamatari, E. and Renault, M. 2001. Princesse des Rugo, mon histoire. Bayard, ISBN 2-227-13914-5

Ancestry

Ancestors of Esther Kamatari

16. Ntare IV, Sultan and Mwami of Burundi

8. Mwezi IV, Sultan and Mwami of Burundi

17. Vyano, of the Mwenengwe clan

4. Mutaga IV, Sultan and Mwami of Burundi

9. Vyano, of the Bunyakarama clan

2. Prince Ignace Katamari of Burundi

5. Niyakire

1. Princess Esther Katamari of Burundi

3. Agrippine

References

Esther Kamatari et Marie Renault, Princesse des Rugo. Mon histoire, Bayard, Paris, 2001, p. 16.
Soszynski, Henry. "BURUNDI". members.iinet.net.au. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
"HRH Princess Esther Kamatari of Burundi - Royalbridges.org". royalbridges.org. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
Friel, Mikhaila. "The incredible life of Princess Esther of Burundi, France's first Black model who left royal life behind after her father's assassination". Insider. Retrieved 3 February 2021.