Hundreds of Rwandans and friends of Rwanda living in southern African countries on March 26 gathered in Pretoria, South Africa to mark the Rwandan Family Day.

The event organised by the Rwandan community in southern Africa was also aimed at providing a platform to interact and discuss matters of development in their homeland.

According to a statement, besides Rwandan families that live in southern Africa, the event was attended by Rwandan students in South Africa.

At the event, Edison Niyibizi, the chairperson of Rwanda Diaspora in southern Africa reminded those gathered that it was important to maintain their social cohesion within the communities they live.

The event was also graced by Netty Karega, the wife to the Rwandan High Commissioner to South Africa, who highlighted in her speech that Rwandans must continue striving to safeguard their culture wherever they can be.

She also encouraged the Rwandan community to continue visiting one another, introducing their children to cultural values like the Rwanda traditional dance among others.

Some guests volunteered to coordinate the training sessions for children where they will meet regularly to be trained in traditional dance and other cultural virtues.