On 4th August 2023, the Rwandan Community and friends of Rwanda in China gathered together to celebrate National Harvest Day, Umuganura2023 at the Embassy of Rwanda in Beijing.

Umuganura, the national harvest day, can be dated back over a thousand years and is one of the most important festivals and holidays in Rwanda. Also known as Rwanda's Thanks Giving day, this holiday was celebrated by Rwandans at the beginning of every harvest. In the past it was a very big event in the kingdom as Rwandans celebrated the achievements in terms of harvest both at the kingdom and family level.

In his remarks, Ambassador James Kimonyo, reminded the audience that Umuganura has evolved from an agro-based harvest celebration to encompassing achievements from various sectors crucial for Rwanda's national development.

He urged the audience, primarily composed of students, to reflect on their accomplishments and aspire to higher goals, with the aim of contributing to the overall development of the country.

Alongside cultural performances and the sharing of traditional meals, an engaging quiz session was organized with the purpose to deepen the audience’s understanding of Umuganura's origins and significance, Rwanda's historical and cultural heritage, as well as the country's vision for the future.