Qibla direction in Bujumbura

How to face the Qibla in Bujumbura

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 22.0° towards east: the result is the bearing of 22.0°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at north would leave you about 22° off.

The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Bujumbura, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Bujumbura is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.

Why a flat map shows a different direction

On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Bujumbura to Mecca points to 22.5°, only 0.5° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 22.0° bearing remains the exact one.

The value of 22.0° is the direction in which the shortest route from 3.3819° S, 29.3614° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.

Distance from Bujumbura to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 2,984 km from Bujumbura as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 3,289 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 4 h 01 min, although most pilgrims from Bujumbura connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Bujumbura run 1 hour behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Bujumbura rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Bujumbura

On 204 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Bujumbura while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 15 March 2027 it happens at 12:10 local time.

On 161 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in January (31 days), for instance on 1 January 2027 at 12:40.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Bujumbura: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.

Bujumbura compared with other cities

Compared with Gitega, 63 km away, the Qibla in Bujumbura is turned 1.1° further clockwise (22.0° against 20.9°), and Mecca is 18 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Gitega (63 km), prays towards 20.9°, a difference of 1.1°.

See all cities on the Qibla page for Burundi.

Qibla in cities near Bujumbura

• Gitega20.9° · 63 km