The composer of Burundi's national anthem, Professor Abbot Marc Barengayabo, died at the age of 79, hospital sources said here on Thursday.

Hospital sources said Barengayabo, who composed the Burundi Bwacu (our beloved Burundi) sung at the African country's independence on July 1, 1962, died on Tuesday at Kamenge University Hospital in the Burundian Bujumbura from an illness.

Barengayabo was born on Aug. 2, 1934 at Zaga in the commune of Butihinda in Burundi's northeastern province of Muyinga.

In 1973, Barengayabo got his doctorate in canon law in Italy and lectured at the University of Burundi and at the higher seminary of Bujumbura since 1975.

His former student now a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of Burundi told Xinhua that the death of his former lecturer is a "disastrous loss" in the Burundian education sector and in the Burundian history.

"Professor Abbot Marc Barengayabo was a very important figure in Burundi's history. He composed the Burundian anthem during the era of the country's independence. He was also a great lecturer," said Pascal Rwankara, a professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Burundi.

During the celebration of Burundi's 50th independence anniversary on July 1, 2012, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decorated Barengayabo for his "outstanding" contribution to the independence of Burundi.

Barengayabo retired in 2003.