NANCHANG, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- "I want to bring high-speed railways, express delivery, lunar exploration projects, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and 5G technology back to my hometown. The Belt and Road Initiative connects you and me."
These are the lyrics of a song performed by a band of foreign students from Nanchang Hangkong University, east China's Jiangxi Province.
The band currently has four main members, all are foreign students from countries and regions along the Belt and Road. They are Mnyaga Daniel Rukiko on the keyboard from Tanzania, Abel Jacob Chulu on the bass from Zambia, Isaiah Nyasha Chikomo on drums and Audrey Tanaka Murungweni on vocals from Zimbabwe.
Rukiko currently studies aeronautical engineering at the university. He got his first impression of China from the China-aided Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which has made a significant contribution to the social and economic development of Tanzania and Zambia since its opening in 1976.
"Moreover, a series of Belt and Road projects have brought tangible benefits to my home country," he said.
Chulu, Rukiko's classmate, said that the new terminal of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, built by a Chinese company, was put into operation in Zambia's capital city Lusaka last year. In their country, there are many similar Chinese-aided infrastructure projects.
Murungweni, the lead singer, mentioned the newly-completed parliament building in Zimbabwe that was built with the help of Chinese enterprises. "The new parliament building is magnificent and very impressive, and that is one of the reasons why I want to come to China to study civil engineering," said Murungweni.
To them, forming a band is not only a hobby but also a bridge to let more people have a deeper understanding of China.
Ever since Chulu came to China in 2012, he has been obsessed with traditional Chinese culture and began learning Chinese and Chinese songs. Later he tried to fuse Zambian music into Chinese songs.
Drummer Chikomo also adapted a well-known Chinese folksong Jasmine by adding some Zimbabwean-style drumbeats. "I didn't expect it to be so popular with young people," Chikomo said.
They have put everything they have experienced in China into their music. Videos of their performance won wide attention on social media platforms.
"We hope to show our real life in China through these videos so that more people can learn about Chinese culture and the rapid development of China," said Rukiko.
Xie Hua, director of the international office of Nanchang Hangkong University, said that the band was founded in 2013. Former members include students from India, Bangladesh, South Africa and other countries and regions. ■
