I should have known that Burundi uses francs, but I didn’t until I acquired a 100 franc note from that African nation as part of a collection of cheap but colorful currency. Just more ignorance on my part. Interesting that a lot of Francophone African countries use the franc, but neither France nor Belgium does.
The gentleman on the obverse is Louis Rwagasore, or Crown Prince Louis Rwagasore, Burundi nationalist and son of Mwambutsa IV, king of Burundi from 1915 to 1966. Louis Rwagasore was briefly prime minister in 1961, ahead of independence the next year, but was assassinated in a hotel dining room. Suspects were rounded up and executed. Belgian authorities were suspected of having a hand in the murder, but that was never proved.

In the background of the note is Louis Rwagasore’s tomb.

On the reverse, house building. And a warning not to counterfeit the notes.

In theory, 100 Burundian francs is worth a bit more than five U.S. cents. No wonder there have never been any Burundian centimes.