Having resided in Rwanda since 1994, with only brief departures for study and visits to other nations, I've never identified myself as part of the Rwandan 'Diaspora'.

Before 1994, those of us living outside the country weren't termed 'Diaspora'; we were referred to as "refugees."

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Due to my decision to remain, work, and live in Rwanda, I hadn't really engaged with the broader Rwandan community residing abroad. Apart from acknowledging the significance of their remittances to our economy (over $470 million in 2022), I hadn't personally interacted much.

Therefore, when I had the opportunity to attend the recent Rwanda Day in Washington DC, I eagerly seized it. I had observed the last ten editions from the comfort of my home, so when we departed from Kigali International Airport, I pondered what it would be like to experience the event in person.

It's been slightly over a week since I returned from my inaugural Rwanda Day, and during the past seven days, I've been attempting to comprehend not only what I experienced but also what my key takeaways were. Today, I'd like to share them with you.

Firstly, watching the event on television fails to convey the scale and energy of Rwanda Day. The Gaylord Resort and Convention Center is an expansive facility, boasting hundreds of hotel rooms, restaurants, cafes, and numerous large and small meeting rooms. It's a place where one can easily get lost due to its sheer size.

However, on the day of the event, the venue was teeming with Rwandans (and friends of Rwanda) to such an extent that, by the day's end, it had almost felt small.

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Everywhere one turned, there was someone sporting a 'Rwanda Day' badge or conversing in Kinyarwanda.

Initially, I had taken news articles reporting over 12,000 people registering for Rwanda Day with a grain of salt. Yet, as someone who was present, I can unequivocally state that this number was either met or surpassed. The turnout was impressive.

My second takeaway was the profound importance of the event in fostering a sense of community and shared heritage.

Firstly, and most importantly, among members of the Rwandan community residing abroad; secondly, between those living outside the country and those back home; and finally, between the leadership and the citizenry (both local and in the diaspora).

Living abroad, one of the most challenging aspects is being part of someone else's community, with its own values and norms. I perceive Rwanda Day as a 'family' reunion of sorts—a time for the extended family to come together and celebrate its collective identity.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 'family' hadn't convened for the past few years, and observing the attendees interact, it was evident that the event in Washington DC was long overdue.

A 'family' is only as strong as the bonds that unite it, and I believe that a significant portion of the glue that binds us together lies in our storytellers and content creators.

Lastly, Rwanda Day left me with an enhanced appreciation and respect for the work of local content creators.

Conversing with a few diaspora members who attended Rwanda Day, I discovered that they were able to stay abreast of the myriad developments in the country due to the diligent efforts of prolific Rwandan content creators on platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram (not forgetting the local traditional media as well).

I doubt that local content creators fully grasp how invaluable and crucial their work is in helping the diaspora feel connected to their homeland.

Rwanda Day underscored for me just how essential their contributions are in nurturing a sense of "Rwandan-ness" of our diaspora, especially because they live in places where they are surrounded by individuals who don't don’t look or think like them.

I imagine that in situations like that, it is absolutely essential to be able to tune into your Rwandan identity. Our story tellers and content creators are the channel (pun intended) that the Diaspora tunes.

The author is a socio-political commentator